Class. 
TRIANDRIA. 
I RIS TE'NAX. 
TOUGH IRIS. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
IRIDACE^, 
Native of 
Height 
Flowers in 
Duration 
Introduced 
California. 
6 inches. 
December. 
. . . . . . . 
Perennial. 
in 1826. 
No. 888. 
The derivation is explained under No. 3. 
Iris tenax was discovered by Douglas, in Cali- 
fornia ; in dry soils, or open parts of woods. He 
found it flowering in the spring; it has, however, 
in the Horticultural Gardens of London and Bir- 
mingham, flowered in November and December. 
Douglas, as stated in the Botanical Register, 
page 1218, says The native tribes about Aguilar 
river, in California, find this plant very serviceable 
for many purposes. From the veins of the leaves, 
fine cord is made, which is converted into fishing 
nets ; and from its buoyancy, great strength, and 
durability, it suits this purpose admirably. It is 
also made into snares for deer and bears ; and a 
good idea may be formed of its strength, when a 
snare, not thicker than a 16-thread line, is sufiicient 
to strangle Cervus Alces, the great stag of Califor- 
nia, one of the most powerful animals of its tribe. 
The cordage is also manufactured into bags and 
other articles. ” 
A light dry soil is best suited to this plant. It 
increases slowly, but may be occasionally divided 
in the spring. 
