i
We are obliged to the Honourable and Reverend W.
Herbert, of Spofforth, Yorkshire, for the drawing made
by him of this very rare plant, which flowered in his collection
in February last, in a pot plunged in a dry border,
sloping to the south, without any protection, in which
situation it has been kept six or seven years, when it was
first raised from seed. It is a native of Mount Caucasus,
and is mentioned by Marschall Bieberstein as being frequent
on sunny hills round Tiflis, flowering early in Spring;
we have seen a native specimen of it in Mr. Lambert’s
Herbarium, which agrees pecisely with our plant, the bulb
nearly resembles the Persian Iris, as does the habit of the
plant. I. alata is a nearly related species, of which we
have had a bulb growing in a border in our garden these
three years, where it thrives well, but has not yet flowered.
It will be some time before the present species becomes
common in our collections, except more seeds or bulbs of
it are introduced from abroad; it will also require more
than ordinary care to preserve it in good health, as it will
be very liable to rot, if in too moist a situation; we would
recommend a dry border of light sandy soil, where the wet
passes off readily.