8. Iris Germanica L. Fleur-De-Lis

Fig. 1335

Iris get-manica L. Sp. PI. 38. 1753.

Rootstock thick. Stems stout, usually branched and several-flowered, 2°-3° tall, bearing several leaves. Leaves glaucous, 8"-2' wide, the basal ones mostly shorter than the stem; bracts scarious; flowers nearly sessile in the bracts, large and very showy, deep violet-blue vejned with yellow and brown or sometimes white; outer perianth-segments broadly obovate, 3'-4' long, their claws strongly crested; inner perianth-segments narrower, arching.

Escaped from gardens to roadsides in Massachusetts and Virginia. Native of Europe. May-June.

Iris Duerinckii Buckley, Am. Journ. Sci. 45: 176, described from specimens collected at St. Louis, Mo., but doubtless cultivated, appears to be /. aphylla L., a native of central Europe.

9. Iris Fulva Kcr. Red-Brown Flag

Fig. 1336

iris fulva Ker, Bot. Mag. pl. 1496. 1812. Iris cuprca Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 30. 1814.

Rootstock stout, fleshy. Stems rather slender, 2°-3° tall, simple or branched, several-flowered and bearing 2-4 leaves; leaves pale green and somewhat glaucous, shorter than or equalling the stem, 3"-8" wide; pedicels 1/2"-1' long, shorter than the bracts; flowers reddish brown, variegated with blue and green; perianth-segments glabrous, crestless, the outer ones 1 1/2'-2' long, the inner smaller, spreading; style-branches 2"-3' wide.

In swamps, southern Illinois to Georgia and Louisiana, west to Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. May-June.

10. Iris Pseudacorus L. Yellow Or Sword-Flag, Corn-Flag

Fig. 1337

Iris Pseudacorus L. Sp. PL 38. 1753.

Rootstock thick. Stems 1 1/20-3° high, usually several-flowered; leaves pale green and glaucous, stiff, 4"-8" wide, the lower equalling or longer than the stem; flowers bright yellow, short-pedicelled; perianth-segments glabrous and crestless, the outer broadly obovate, 2'-2 1/2' long, the inner oblong, nearly erect, scarcely longer than the claws of the outer ones; capsule oblong, 2'-3' long.

In marshes, Massachusetts to southern New York and New Jersey. Naturalized or adventive from Europe. False Sweet-flag. Yellow Water-flag or -skegs. Jacob's-sword. Daggers. Flagons. May-July.

Iris orientalis Mill., native of Asia, with pale yellow flowers and short stem-leaves, is reported as escaped from cultivation into marshes on the coast of Connecticut.

11. Iris Cristata Ait. Crested Dwarf Iris. Fig- I338

Iris cristata Ait. Hort. Kew. I: 70. 1789.

Rootstock slender, branched, creeping, tuberous-thickened. Stems only 1' - 3' high, 1-2-flowered; leaves lanceolate, bright green, 4'-9' long, 3"-9" wide, much exceeding the stems; scape flattened, flowers blue, pedicelled; perianth-segments obovate, 1'-1 1/2' long, the outer crested, little longer than the naked inner ones, the tube very slender, 1V-2Y long above the ovary, longer than the bracts; capsule oval, sharply triangular, narrowed at each end, 6"-9' high, 4"-5" thick.

On hillsides and along streams, Maryland to southern Ohio and Indiana, south to Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri. April-May.