NATURAL ORDER IRIDEjE. 
65 
The culture in a hotbed, it will be observed, is precisely similar 
to that in the open ground, and the only advantage is, that in a hot¬ 
bed the heat from the dung will cause the sets to sprit sooner. The 
principal requisite is to cover them up well, to prevent the frost from 
touching them, and to keep the rains off them. 
I hope your correspondent will be successful in his endeavours to 
grow them. 
November 16 , 1833 . 
FLORICULTURE. 
ARTICLE VII.—CULTURE OF THE NATIONAL ORDER IRIDE/E. 
BY ARTHUR. 
The few hasty remarks I made on the culture of the Natural Order 
Amaryllideae, met so flattering a reception as to induce me, in com¬ 
pliance with the request of H. L. T., to submit a few more on 
the culture of the Corn-Flag Tribe, (Iride^e,) which in conse¬ 
quence of their beauty and easy culture, are universally cultivated. 
The plants of this order are generally natives of the Cape of Good 
Hope, Europe, and some parts of North America. The tropical 
countries produce very few species, and though Marica and Morcea 
are found in hot climates, by far the greater part inhabit more tem¬ 
perate regions. Their medical properties are very trifling, for, with 
few exceptions, they are more remarkable for beauty, than utility. 
The Iris Florentina and Germanica produce the fine violet scented 
powder and root, sold in our chemists, shops under the name of 
“ Orris root,” or “Iris root.” The seeds of the Iris, pseudo acorus, 
when wasted, very nearly resemble coffee in quality. Saffron is the 
dried stigmas of a Crocus, which possesses a valuable colouring 
matter, to which the name of Polychroite has been given. These 
properties, with a few more of less note, may be considered ' as the 
chief uses of Irideae. The Genera of this order, are as follows 
Iris, 
Moraea, 
Marica, 
Streptanthera, 
Patersonia, 
Orthrosanthes, 
Witsenia, 
Aristea, 
Cypelia, 
Vieusseuxia, 
Homeria, 
Spatalanthus. 
Lapyrousia, 
Anomatheca, 
Babiana, 
Antholvza, 
Pardanthus, 
Bobartia, 
Sisyrinchium, 
Renealmia, 
Sparaxis, 
Tritonia, 
Ixia, 
Melasphaerula, 
