I RIS RUTHENICA. 
RUSSIAN IRIS. 
Class. Order. 
TRIANDRIA. MONOGYN1A. 
Natural Order. 
IRIDEJE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Russia. 
1 foot. 
Aug. Sept. 
Perennial. 
in 1804. 
No. 456. 
The rainbow’s varied colouring has been thought 
to be assumed by some of the present genus; hence 
the application of Iris, the Greek name of the “ hea- 
venly bow.” Ruthenica, belonging to Russia. 
Although we scarcely ever entered a flower gar- 
den without meeting a few old friends of the Iris 
family, yet a tolerably complete assemblage of them 
is very rare. The genus comprises upwards of 
eighty species — all beautiful, unobtrusive, and with 
two or three exceptions, quite hardy. The Iris 
Ruthenica is by no means common, and is rendered 
the more desirable by the lateness of its season of 
beauty. In the general catalogues it will be found 
to be registered as flowering in April and May, 
but our plant is an autumnal flowerer. It is dwarf, 
and is likewise pleasantly scented, a quality not 
prevalent amongst Irises. 
This plant has a tendency to form an obtuse angle 
either above or below the germen; and sometimes 
at both of these situations, as will be observed by 
our figure. It is not, however, a permanent character. 
The plant may be divided in spring or autumn, and 
flourishes in peat and loam. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 1, 117. 
