1. Iris. Outer divisions of the perianth recurved, the inner erect; stigmas petal-like.
[*][*] Branches of the style alternate with the anthers. Perianth regular.
2. Nemastylis. Stem from a coated bulb. Filaments united. Style-branches 2-cleft.
3. Belamcanda. Stems from a creeping rhizome. Filaments distinct. Stigmas dilated.
4. Sisyrinchium. Root fibrous. Filaments united. Stigmas thread-like.
1. ÌRIS, Tourn. Flower-de-Luce.
Perianth 6-cleft; the tube more or less prolonged beyond the ovary; the 3 outer divisions spreading or reflexed, the 3 inner smaller, erect. Stamens distinct; the oblong or linear anthers sheltered under the overarching petal-like stigmas (or rather branches of the style, bearing the true stigma in the form of a thin lip or plate under the apex); most of the style connate with the tube of the perianth. Capsule 3–6-angled, coriaceous. Seeds depressed-flattened, usually in 2 rows in each cell.—Perennials, with sword-shaped or grassy leaves, and large showy flowers; ours with creeping and more or less tuberous rootstocks. (Ἶρις, the rainbow, anciently applied to this genus on account of its bright and varied colors.)
[*] Stems leafy and rather tall (1–3° high), from thickened rootstocks, often branching; tube of the perianth shorter than the divisions, which are beardless and crestless, the erect inner ones (petals) much smaller than the outer.
[+] Flowers violet-blue, variegated with green, yellow or white, and purple-veined.
1. I. versícolor, L. (Larger Blue Flag.) Stem stout, angled on one side; leaves sword-shaped (¾´ wide); ovary obtusely triangular with the sides flat; flowers (2½–3´ long) short-peduncled, the funnel-form tube shorter than the ovary; capsule oblong, turgid, with rounded angles.—Wet places, Newf. to Fla., west to Minn. and Ark. May, June.