1S7.
IM.fitìitiz. id. FtA'bj.rRìijwayJju'ilìóì.ì.
187
IRIS biglumis.
Glumaceous Iris.
Linnean Class and Order. T R IA N D R IA M O N O G Y N IA .
Na tu ra lO rd e r. IR ID EÆ . Brown prodr. 1 . p .3 0 2 .
IR L S . Suprà fol. 11 et 56. Series 2.
I . biglumis, imberbis; scapo subbifloro foliis breviori, spathâ diphyllâ sub-
glumaceâ, perianthii laciniis subæqualibus, stigmatibus inciso-serratis,
capsulis hexagonis. D . Bon Mss.
Iris biglumis. Vahl enum. 1. p . 149.
I . an spuria? P a ll. it. 3. append.p. 26. t. c. f . 1.
Root creeping. Scape round, about 3 inches high, entirely
enclosed by a pair of leaves, from the bosom of wliich it
issues, ie /p e i narrow, ensiform, acuminate, erect,rather stiff,
and harsh to the touch, of a dull glaucous green, dark red at
the base, exceeding the scape, and lengthening considerably
after the flowering season. Spathe composed of two broad,
ovate-oblong, acute, membranous, green, adpressed, nearly
equal leaves; their edges scariose, and over-lapping each
other towards the base. Flowers mostly 2, sessile, of a pale
blue; the segments about equal in size and form, narrow,
rather spathulate than lanceolate; the outer 3 reflexed, rather
broader and paler than the inner ones, which are erect,
but hardly connivent; the disk of a whitish colour, marked
with numerous purple veins and spots. Stigmas linear, cloven,
deeply and sharply serrated, of a deeper shade of blue.
Ovarium about an inch long, marked with 6 furrows; the
alternate ones rather deeper.
Very nearly related to I. spuria,_ but apparently distinct
from all the varieties of that species by its shorter stem,
broader and glumaceous bractes, and nearly equal segments
of its flowers. A native of Siberia, where it was discovered
by the celebrated Pallas, who has given a figure and description
of the plant in his valuable travels. Our figure will
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