The Iris (Flag) has a horizontal rhizome. The flowers are borne in the leaf-axils in fan-like inflorescences (rhipidium). The branches of the style are large and petaloid; on their under surface may be seen a small projecting shelf (Fig. [312] a) having on its upper surface the stigmatic hairs. Beneath the branches of the style are 3 well protected stamens, and immediately outside these the external perianth-leaves. The honey is secreted in the perianth-tube, and the insects, endeavouring to obtain it through the narrow passages at the base of the stamens, settle upon the outer perianth-leaves, which are bent backwards and often very hairy along their central line. The insects then rub their backs on the anthers just above them, beneath the branches of the style; they readily deposit the pollen on the stigma of another flower as they enter it, but cannot do so in withdrawing, since the stigma is pushed back, and self-fertilisation is thus avoided. The stylar branches lie close to the outer perianth-leaves, which are just beneath them, or separated by a distance of only 6–10 mm.; the first form of flower is adapted for Rhingia rostrata, the latter for bees.—Crocus has vertical, tuberous, underground stems surrounded by the leaf-sheaths (corms), and terminal flowers; the linear leaves are not equitant, but have two longitudinal furrows on the under side. The perianth is gamophyllous and funnel-shaped. The stylar branches (stigmas) are fleshy, rolled together in the shape of a horn, and split along the edge.—Gladiolus has corms like the Crocus; spikes with slightly zygomorphic, almost bilabiate flowers, most frequently turning to one side. Position of the leaves as in the Iris.—Diplarrhena has 2 fertile and 1 barren stamen; Hermodactylus has a unilocular ovary with 3 parietal placentæ. Cypella and Tigridia have bulbs.
Fig. 312.—Iris pseudacorus. One external and two internal perianth-leaves, and one of the stylar-branches have been removed, y The outer, i the inner perianth-leaves; g stylar-branch; a stigma; s anther. The ovary is seen in longitudinal section.
770 species; chiefly in the countries round the Mediterranean, and in Africa, especially the Cape (Gladiolus, Ferraria, Moræa, Galaxia, Sparaxis, Antholyza, Tritonia, Ixia, etc.), Australia and Tropical America (Sisyrinchium, Tigridia, Cipura, Cypella, etc). A great number are ornamental plants: the cultivated Crocus-species are from the South of Europe and Asia; Gladiolus communis from S. Europe; the other species principally from S. Africa. The native species of Iris are I. pseudacorus (yellow) and I. fœtidissima.
Officinal: the stigmas of Crocus sativus (Oriental, cultivated in France, Spain, Italy, and Austria), used as a colouring matter, saffron; the rhizomes of the S. European Iris florentina, pallida, and germanica (“Orris-root”).
Fig. 313.—Dioscorea batatas: A ♂-plant; B ♂-flower; C ♀-plant (nat. size); D, E ♀-flowers (mag.); F seed; G embryo.
Order 9. Dioscoreaceæ. Perennial herbs with fleshy, often very large tuberous rhizomes (or roots); twining stems; leaves stalked, often arrow- or heart-shaped, lobed, palminerved and finely reticulate as in the Dicotyledons (Fig. [313]). The flower is diclinous (most frequently diœcious), regular, epigynous, small, and of a greenish colour, but otherwise typical (Pr3 + 3, and A3 + 3, or G3); in most instances 2 ovules are placed one above the other in each loculus. The inflorescence is a spike or raceme, sometimes richly branched and paniculate.—The order approaches most nearly to the Amaryllidaceæ.
Tamus (Bryony) has a berry, Dioscorea (Yam) a thin-walled, 3-edged or 3-winged capsule (Fig. [313]). Both have subterranean or aerial tubers; the Yam very often also developes tubers in the axils of the foliage-leaves; tuberous roots are said to occur in D. batatas. The tubers of many species of Yams (D. batatas from China and Japan, D. alata, South Sea Islands and India, D. bulbifera) are a very important source of food in the Tropics, especially the first-named.—Testudinaria; Rajania.—The tuberous stem of Tamus communis and Testudinaria elephantipes, and some species of Dioscorea is formed from one single internode (epicotyl), and the aerial shoots are developed from adventitious buds; in T. elephantipes the stem is aerial, and covered with thick scales of cork, regularly arranged, and separated by grooves.
Tropical order (167 species); 2 species (Tamus communis and Borderea pyrenaica) in Europe.