June and July
l. erecto-patent, 1ft. long, 1/2in. broad. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. high, little branched, stout, sub-terete. Europe, Asia, Algeria, 1759. (B. M. 58.) I. squalens (daubed).* fl. in clusters, with a faint Elder-like scent; limb 2 1/2in. to 3in. deep; falls obovate-cuneate, 1 1/2in. broad, reflexing half-way down, upper part bright lilac-purple; beard bright yellow; standards length and breadth same as the falls, obovate-unguiculate, erect, rather crisped, dull lilac and yellow or brownish-yellow. May and June. l. tufted, ensiform, glaucous. Stems 2ft. to 3ft. high, branched half-way down, bearing three or four clusters of flowers. Europe, Asia, 1768. (B. M. 787.) Two desirable varieties are atro purpurea and lavendulacea.
I. stenogyne (with narrow-stigma). A synonym of I. Gulden-stadtiana. I. stylosa (large-styled). A synonym of I. unguicularis. I. subbiflora (sub-two-flowered). A synonym of I. biflora. I. susiana (Susian).* fl. solitary; limb 3in. deep; falls and standards similar in size and shape, with a round blade, 1 1/2in. to 3in. broad, cuneately narrowed to a short claw, with dense fine spots and lines of brown-black on a whitish groundwork tinged with lilac; falls reflexing about half-way up, densely pilose down the claw, with a broad cushion of brown-black hairs; standards erect, much spotted on a groundwork of brighter lilac. April. l. ensiform, stem-clasping, pale green, rather firm. Stem 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high. Levant, 1573. A most distinct and beautiful species, requiring a slight protection in winter in colder parts of the country. I. Swertii (Swert's). fl. very fragrant; limb 2in. to 2 1/2in. deep; segments pure white, 1in. broad, slightly veined with lilac, purple towards the edge; falls obovate-cuneate, with a yellow beard; standards obovate-unguiculate, much crisped, pure white, except the purple keel and border. May. l. ensiform, glaucous. Stem 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, bearing three or four clusters of flowers, slightly branched. A handsome plant, the native country of which is unknown. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 254.) I. tectorum (roof).* fl., limb bright lilac, 1 1/2in. to 2in. deep; falls above 1in. broad, very obtuse, crisped at the edge, marked with deep lilac veins on a paler lilac groundwork, narrowed cuneately into a claw half as long as the limb, which is variegated with lilac streaks on a white ground, the deeply laciniated white and lilac crest 1/2in. deep; standards spreading, rather shorter than the falls, with an orbicular plain lilac limb; spathe single, terminal, two or three-flowered. June. l. ensiform, pale green, about 1ft. long, thin. Stem 1ft. or more high. Japan, 1872. A rare, but distinct and beautiful, species. SYN. I. tomiolopha. (B. M. 6118; G. C. n. s., vi. 37.) I. tenax (strong). fl. solitary; limb bright lilac-purple, 2in. to 3in. deep; falls obovate-unguiculate, with a reflexing blade 3/4in. to 1in. broad; standards nearly as long, 1/4in. broad, oblanceolate, with a long claw. May and June. l. two, linear, moderately firm. Stem 6in. to 12in. high, slender. North America, 1826. (B. M. 3343; B. R. 1218.) According to Douglas, the Indians make from the fibre derived from the leaves of this species "deer and elk snares sufficiently strong to take even the largest and most powerful of these animals; and it is also used by the women for making small bags and reticules, exactly the same as steel chain purses of fine workmanship, and for fishing."
I. tomiolopha (jagged-crest). A synonym of I. tectorum. I. tridentata (three-toothed). fl., limb lilac-purple, 2in. to 2 1/2in. deep; falls obovate-unguiculate, 1in. or more broad, reflexing half-way down; claws white, veined with lilac; standards oblanceolate-spathulate, erect, about 1/2in. long; spathes two-flowered. May. l. ensiform. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long. Stem slender, terete, hollow. North America, 1829. (B. M. 2886, under name of I. tripetala.) I. tuberosa (tuberous).* Snake's Head. fl. solitary; limb 2in. to 2 1/2in. deep; falls with an orbicular, obtuse, lurid purple, veinless lamina, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad, not more than half as long as the oblong spathulate claw, which is greenish-yellow on both sides, and 3/4in. to 1in. broad at the middle; standards erect, under 1in. long, rhomboid, unguiculate; blade entire or tricuspidate; spathe with usually only a single large green valve, which often overtops the flower. April and May. l., outer ones bract-like, lanceolate; inner ones two or three, weak, glaucous, tetragonal, erect. Stem weak, slender, hollow, about 1ft. long. Levant, 1597. A well-known species, and one of the earliest introduced into this country. (B. M. 531.) I. unguicularis (clawed).* fl. solitary, fragrant; limb 3in. deep, bright lilac; falls obovate, 1in. broad, narrowed gradually into a linear claw, keeled with yellow and streaked with lilac on a white ground at the throat; standards nearly the same shapes and size as the falls, lilac, erect. February. l. in a distichous basal tuft, linear, erect, firm. Plant stemless. Algeria. SYN. I. stylosa (under which name it is included in B. M. 5773). I. variegata (variegated).* fl., limb 2in. deep; falls oblong, cuneately narrowed to the base, 3/4in. broad; upper part deep claret-brown, middle much veined with brown on a yellow groundwork; beard bright yellow; standards erect, oblong-unguiculate, bright lemon-yellow. May. l. tufted, purple at the base, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, 1in. broad. Stem 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, glaucous, forked low down, bearing three or four, one to two-flowered, terminal spathes. Eastern Europe, 1597. A handsome species, having several very desirable varieties. (B. M. 16.) I. verna (spring). fl. solitary; limb 1 1/2in. deep; segments oblong-unguiculate, both about 1/2in. broad; claw orange at the throat, spotted with black, and furnished with a central, slightly raised, scarcely villose line. Spring. l. linear, 6in. to 12in. long, slightly glaucous. Plant almost stemless. Southern United States, 1748. A scarce plant; several kinds are sold under this name (S. B. F. G. 68.) I. versicolor (various-coloured).* fl. clustered; limb claret purple, under 2in. deep; falls obovate-unguiculate, reflexing halfway down; the roundish lamina 3/4in. to 1in. broad, cuneate at the base; standards oblanceolate-spathulate, light claret-purple. June. l. ensiform, rather glaucous. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. high, terete, forked low down, with two or three clusters of flowers beside the end one. North America, 1732. A common and handsome species. (B. M. 21.) I. virescens (greenish). fl., tube greenish-yellow, 1in. to 1 1/4in. long; limb 2in. deep; falls oblong, cuneately narrowed to a claw, 1/2in. to 3/8in. broad, greenish-yellow, streaked in the lower half with dull purple; beard bright yellow; standards oblong-unguiculate, dull yellow, 3/4in broad, the claw spotted and streaked with green and dull purple. April and May. l. as in I. lutescens. Europe. According to Mr. Baker, this is the least ornamental or attractive of all the bearded Irises.
I. virginica (Virginian). fl., limb 2in. to 2 1/2in. deep, bright lilac-purple; falls round-unguiculate, reflexed half-way down; lamina 1in. broad, 1in. to 1 1/4in. long; standards erect, oblanceolate-spathulate, deep lilac, less than 1/2in. broad. June. l. firm, 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, about 1in. broad. Stem 2ft. or more high, forked, compressed towards the base, terete upwards. North America, 1758. (B. M. 703.) Sect. II. Xiphions.
I. alata (winged).* fl., tube cylindrical, 3in. to 6in. long; limb bright lilac-purple, 3in. deep; falls oblong, 1in. broad, bright yellow at throat; inner segments oblanceolate-spathulate, 1in. long, spreading horizontally; spathe sessile, with lanceolate valves, 3in. to 4in. long. October to December. l. sub-erect, lanceolate, acuminate, nearly 1ft. long. Spain, Algiers, &c., 1801. A strikingly handsome species. (B. R. 1876.) I. anglica (English). A garden synonym of I. Xiphioides. I. caucasica (Caucasian). fl. in one-flowered spathes, scentless; limb pale yellow, 1 1/2in. deep; falls obovate, 1/2in. broad, reflexing only in the upper third; stigmas broad, pale yellow, with deltoid crests. February and March. l. four to five, sharply falcate, lanceolate. Stem one to three-flowered, or very short. Caucasus to Persia. (S. B. F. G. 255.) I. filifolia (thread-leaved).* fl., tube 1in. long above the ovary; limb bright deep purple, 2 1/2in. deep; orbicular lamina of the falls 1in. deep, shorter than the panduriform claw, and keeled with bright yellow at the base; standards oblanceolate, erect; spathe 3in. to 4in. long, with pale green lanceolate valves. l. six or more; lower ones filiform over 1ft. long; scarious outside ones at base of stem, flat, and mottled with deep purple. Stem slender, terete, 1ft. to 2ft. high, ending in a single spathe. Gibraltar, 1869. (B. M. 5928.) SYN. Xiphion tingitanum (of B. M. 5981, not of Baker). I. Histrio (actor).* fl., tube 3in. to 4in. long, filiform, exserted; limb lilac-purple, 1 1/2in. deep; falls copiously streaked and spotted with lilac on a paler ground, and keeled with yellow down the face; claw narrowed gradually from top to base; standards plain lilac, oblanceolate, erect; spathe one-flowered, sessile, in the centre of the leaf tuft; valves 3in. to 4in. long. February. l. about two to a tuft, and produced with several others, reaching 1ft. in length. Palestine, 1873. (B. M. 6033.) I. juncea (Rush-like). fl., tube slender, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long; limb pale yellow, 1 1/2in. to 2in. deep; lamina of falls orbicular, 1in. broad, as long as the broad claw; standards oblanceolate, erect, 1/4in. broad; spathe 2in. to 3in. deep, with lanceolate, acuminate valves. May and June. l. numerous, superposed, terete, under one line thick; lower ones 1ft. long. Stems flexuose, terete, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, ending in a single spathe. North Africa, 1869. In Algeria, according to Mr. Baker, the bulbs of this species are eaten. (B. M. 5890.) I. persica (Persian).* fl. violet-scented; limb 1 1/2in. to 2in. deep; falls oblong-spathulate, 1/2in. broad, cuneate at the base, pale yellowish-lilac, with a bright yellow beardless keel, waved at the edges. February and March. Stem none. l. four or five in a basal tuft, linear, recurved, 2in. to 3in. long at the flowering season. Asia Minor to South Persia. (B. M. 1.) I. reticulata (netted).* fl., tube 2in. to 3in. long, exserted; limb deep violet-purple, 1 1/2in. deep; lamina of falls oblong, half as long as the oblong-cuneate claw, with a narrow paler keel, violet-spotted, and with a narrow yellow line down the centre; standards erect, oblanceolate; spathe one-flowered, sessile. February and March. l. generally two to a tuft, as high as the flower at flowering time, and growing afterwards to a length of 1ft. or more, one line thick. Caucasus, &c. (B. M. 5577; L. B. C. 1829; R. G. 452; S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 189.) I. r. Krelagei (Krelage's). This "differs from the type in being nearly or quite inodorous, with a tube not exserted from the spathe, and the colour of the limb a more slaty-purple, with the yellow keel of the lamina of the falls fainter, and the claw not merely keeled in the centre, but variegated with blotches and lines that reach to the edge" (J. G. Baker). I. tingitana (Tangierian).* fl., tube 1 1/2in. long; limb lilac-purple, 3in. deep; orbicular blade of falls shorter than the panduriform claw; standards erect, oblanceolate; spathes two-flowered, 5in. to 6in. deep, with lanceolate acuminate valves. l., lower ones linear-complicate, over 1ft. long, 1/2in. broad after leaving the stem; upper ones gradually smaller. Stem stout, terete, 2ft. to 3ft. high, ending in a single spathe. Tangiers, 1872. (B. M. 6775.) I. vulgare (common).* fl., tube scarcely any; limb 2in. to 2 1/2in. deep; falls with an orbicular reflexing blade 1in. broad and deep, dashed with bright purple down the centre, and a broad erectopatent claw; standards purple, erect; spathe valves 3in. to 4in. long. June. l. four or six below the spathe valves; lowest 1ft. or more long, linear-sub-terete, deeply channelled; upper ones gradually resembling the spathe valves. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. high, one or two-flowered. Portugal, 1596. (B. M. 686, under name of I. Xiphium.) I. v. lusitanicum (Portuguese). fl. bright yellow, or more or less suffused with brown. (B. M. 679, under name of I. lusitanica.) I. xiphioides (Xiphion-like).* fl., limb deep lilac-purple, 2 1/2in. to 3in. deep; blade of falls round-oblong, flushed with yellow down the face, and rather exceeding the deltoid claw; standards purple, erect, oblanceolate; spathe about 3in. deep. July. l. about six in a basal tuft, and three or four from the stem below the spathe; lower ones 1ft. long, linear, 3/8in. to 1/2in. broad, deeply channelled. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. high, two or three-flowered. Pyrenees. SYNS. I. anglica, of gardens, Xiphion latifolium. Of this species, there are numerous varieties in colour of flowers.
ISATIS (the old Greek name, used by Dioscorides). ORD. Cruciferae. This genus comprises from twenty-five to thirty species of erect, branched, annual or biennial herbs, spread over Southern Europe and Western Asia. Flowers often yellow, loosely racemose, ebracteate. Leaves entire, stem ones sagittate. The only species worthy of mention here is the one described below. Propagated by seeds sown in spring in almost any soil.
I. tinctoria (dyers'). Common Dyer's Woad. fl. yellow; panicles loose, erect, elongated. Spring. l., lower ones stalked, ovate; upper ones sessile, sagittate, all more or less glaucous. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Europe (Britain), North Asia. An interesting biennial plant. The ancient Britains stained themselves with it; later, the Saxons imported it. It is still cultivated in Lincolnshire. (Sy. En. B. 161.) ISCHARUM (from ischein, to check; in reference to the impoverished nature of the upper portion of the spadix). ORD. Aroideae (Araceae). A small genus of greenhouse tuberous herbs, now united, by Bentham and Hooker, to Biarum, from which they differ only in botanical details. For culture, see Typhonium. I. angustatum (narrow). fl., sheaths nearly white, embracing the base and middle of the spathe; spathe 6in. long, sheathing part nearly white, gradually expanding into an erect, almost black-purple blade; spadix slender, the female portion very short, the neutral part 1/2in. long and white, the male part 1in. long and black-purple. December. l. long, thick, petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, sub-acute. Tuber the size of a small potato. Syria, 1860. (B. M. 6355.) I. Pyrami (Pyramus). fl., spathe dark velvety-purple, short, broad-lanceolate, long-acuminate, twisted; tube ventricose; spadix almost equal to the spathe. January. l. elliptic-sub-abovate, on long attenuated petioles, obtuse at apex, obliquely nerved. Syria, 1861. (B. M. 5324.) ISERTIA (named after P. E. Isert, a German surgeon). SYNS. Brignolia, Bruinsmania. ORD. Rubiaceae. A genus comprising fifteen species of shrubs or trees, natives of Brazil, Guiana, and New Grenada. Flowers scarlet or red, rarely white or yellow, rather large, in many-flowered, thyrsoid, terminal, corymbose cymes, shortly pedicellate. Leaves large, opposite, rarely ternate, verticillate, thick, coriaceous, acuminate. I. coccinea, perhaps the only species in cultivation, is a very handsome stove evergreen shrub, requiring a compost of peat and loam, with the addition of a little charcoal and silver sand. Increased by cuttings, inserted in sandy soil, in heat, during spring and summer.
I. coccinea (scarlet). fl. scarlet, velvety on the outside, 1in. long; thyrse terminal, many-flowered, panicled. July. l. oval, acuminated at both ends, downy beneath. h. 8ft. to 12ft. Guiana, 1820.
ISOCHILUS (from isos, equal, and cheilos, a lip; in allusion to the shape of the labellum). ORD. Orchideae. A genus of four or five species of epiphytal stove Orchids, ranging from Mexico and the West Indies to Brazil. Flowers rose or red, in one row, in spike-like racemes, small or medium; labellum free from the column, contracted at the base with a slight S-like curvature. Stems bearing the leaves in two rows. Perhaps the only species at present in cultivation is I. Linearis. For culture, see Pleurothallis. I. linearis (linear). fl. purplish, small, in short spikes. Spring. l. short, narrow, on tufted slender stems 1ft. high. Mexico, &c., to Brazil, 1791. (L. B. C. 1341.) ISOLOMA (from isos, equal, and loma, a border; lobes of corolla equal). SYN.