May and June
l. about the length of the scape. h. 6in. 1803. (B. M. 759 and 1284.) M. edulis (edible).* fl. violet; outer segments of the perianth with a yellow spot at the base. May. h. 4ft. 1792. (B. M. 613.) M. iridoides (Iris-like). fl. white, with yellow or brown spots. July. h. 6in. 1758..
M. papilionacea (butterfly-like). fl. varying from red to pale blue, spotted with dark blue. May. l. pubescent, all the segments spreading. h. 3in. to 6in. 1795. (B. M. 750.) M. ramosa (branched). fl. golden-yellow, about 2in. in diameter. May. l. ensiform. Stems rigid, flexuous, leafy. h. 2ft. to 3ft. 1792. (B. M. 771.) SYN. M. bulbifera (B. M. 5785).
M. Sisyrinchium (Sisyrinchium). fl. purple or blue; tube filiform, very long. May. h. 6in. Mediterranean region, Orient, 1597. (B. M. 1407.) SYN. Xiphion Sisyrinchium (B. M. 6096).
M. spathacea (sheathed). fl. sweet-scented; perianth limb bright yellow; outer segments obovate-oblong, obtuse, 1 1/2in. long, marked at the top of claw with a circle of purple lines; inner segments oblanceolate, rather shorter; pedicels 2in. to 3in. long. March. l., developed ones not more than one to a stem, firm in texture, green, ensiform, 6in. to 24in. long, 3/4in. broad, deeply channelled down the face, tapering to a long point; undeveloped ones numerous, scarious, dark brown, sheathing the outside of the tufts, the stems, and proper leaves. Stem terete, about 1ft. high, two or three-flowered. 1875. Plant rhizomatose. (B. M. 6174, under name of Dietes Huttoni.) M. tricuspis (trident-petaled).* fl. pale greenish-white, with purple spots at the base of the outer segments; corolla rather large, with cuneate, concave claws; laminae much longer than these, ovately rounded; inner segments equal to the claws of the outer. May. Stem simple, or occasionally with one or even two branches. h. 1ft. 1776. SYN. Vieusseuxia tricuspis. (B. M. 696.) M. tripetala (three-petal-like). fl. bluish; outer segments of corolla sub-spathulate, divaricately patent; inner segments exceedingly small, shorter than the claws of the outer ones, patent. June. h. 1ft. 1802. SYN. Vieusseuxia tripetaloides. (B. M. 702.) M. tristis (dull-coloured). fl. brown. May and June. l. very smooth. Stem, branches, and peduncles villous. h. 1ft. 1768. (B. M. 577.) M. unguiculata (long-clawed).* fl. whitish, spotted with purplish-red; outer segments obovate, sub-acute, as long as the narrow claws; inner segments small, tridentate-partite. June. h. 1ft. 1802. SYN. Vieusseuxia unguicularis. (B. M. 593.)