FRIS XIPHIOFDES. 
XIPHIUM-LIKE IRIS. 
Class. Order. 
TRIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
iridacea;. 
Native of 
Height 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Spain. 
feet. 
June. 
Perennial. 
in 1571. 
No. 710. 
The name of this genus has been lately explained. 
Xiphioides is intended to indicate its close resem- 
blance to the Iris xiphium rather than the Xiphi- 
um itself. 
This variety, which was sent to us three or four 
years ago, by some kind but unknown friend, has 
continued to increase freely, and flower very gaily. 
It is usually known as the Bronze Iris. This spe- 
cies is the one which is so extensively propagated 
from seeds by the Dutch nurserymen, by which 
means they raise numerous beautiful varieties, and 
export these under very august titles to the Lon- 
don seedsmen. They are frequently put up into 
collections of fifty distinct sorts in each, and are 
sold at from twenty-five to fifty shillings the collec- 
tion, according to the beauty or rarity of the vari- 
eties of which they consist. 
Masters, an extensive cultivator, extols this Iris 
as eminently qualified to repay attentive culture 
from seed. In his directions he says, ‘‘ In August 
the seeds become ripe, and are plentifully produced 
on all seedling plants, although like many other 
plants, but sparingly, and very frequently not at all. 
