Iris. 
(A MESSAGE.) 
T HE Iris, typical of a message , claims the whole world as 
her country, different members of the family dwelling in 
every quarter of the globe. Some of the species have very large 
flowers, and, from their colours being very vivid, and several 
uniting in the same blossom, are extremely showy, the Per¬ 
sian Iris is the most esteemed for the beauty and fragrance ot 
its flowers : a few of them will perfume a whole room lheir 
colours are a mixture of pale sky-blue, purple, anc 
sometimes white. It is from their brilliant and diversified hues 
resembling those of the rainbow, that they have been named 
after the messenger of the gods. It is well known that the fair 
Iris was the bearer of good news only. . 
The Chalcedonian Iris has also very large flowers, and is 
deemed the most magnificent of them all; but the petals are 
very thin, and hang in a kind of slatternly mannei, making 
it appear to some persons less handsome than others which 
are smaller. This flower is termed by old writers the Turkish 
Flower-de-L uce. • 
The common Yellow Iris is generally called the Flag- lhls * 
and several of its kindred, have valuable medicinal and mer¬ 
cantile uses, whilst the seeds are the best substitute for coffee 
hitherto discovered. The juice is sometimes used as a cosmetic 
for removing freckles, and a most lovely colour for painting is 
prepared from its blossom. , . 
Many of the African kinds of this flower, Mr. Martyn tells 
us “ are eaten both by men and monkeys.” 
Although the iris is not deemed a lily, the French have given 
it the name of one : it is the veritable Jlenr-de-lis which figured 
in the former arms of France. 
