IRISES
87
Typical
German
Iris
Bloom
s,
standard,
p,
pistil;
c.
crest
of
pistil;
st.
p,
stigmatic
pocket;
st,
stamen;
f,
fall;
t,
tube;
sp,
spathe
valve;
o,
ovary;
r,
reticulation;
b,
beard.
A
discussion
of
Iris
is
not
complete
without
a
short
con-
sideration
of
the
way
the
German
Iris
came
about.
The
dwarf
German
Iris
is
derived
from
I.
pumila
and
a
number
of
other
dwarf
species.
The
tall
varieties
are
the
result
of
I.
variegata,
a
species
with
yellow
standards
and
ma-
hogany
marked
falls;
I.
pal-
lida,
a
very
pale
blue
species
with
the
two
spathe
valves
(shown
in
sketch)
always
very
papery
and
dry;
I.
germanica,
a
deep
violet
species,
earlier
than
the
others;
I.
florentina,
a
pale
lavender
white;
I.
flavescens,
a
very
good
light
yellow.
Various
combinations
of
these
species
have
given
the
following
eight
groups
of
German
Iris:
I.
variegata,
pallida,
florentina,
sambucina,
neglecta,
squsjens,
amcena,
plicata.
There
are
other
bearded
species
of
Iris
worthy
of
culture,
such
as
I.
mesopotamica,
benacensis,
cypriana,
Kochii
and
Caterina.
It
is
interesting
to
know
that
Iris
florentina,
the
old-fashioned
sweet,
early-blooming,
pale
lavender-
white
species,
is
the
orris-root
of
commerce
and
believed
to
be
the
original
of
the
Fleur-de-lis,
or
French
national
floral
emblem.
The
belles
of
ancient
Greece
grew
it
both
for
flowers
and
root,
and
the
growing
of
this
root
is
a
leading
industry
of
northern
Italy.
The
rhizomes
are
dug
in
the
Summer
and
peeled
to
remove
the
outer
bark.
The
separate
joints
are
laid
aside
to
dry
until
the
end
of
two
years,
when
they
will
have
acquired
a
delicate
fragrance
of
Violets.
The
root
pieces,
which
have
a
white
appearance,
are
brought
to
the
market
of
perfumers
who
powder
them
for
dentifrices
or
sachet
powders,
or
when
distilled
with
water
form
the
oil
of
orris,
the
basis
of
many
perfumes.
Almost
all
Irises
like
sun.
The
best
fertilizers
for
them
are
wood-
ashes "
and
bonemeal.
The
German
Iris
likes
lime;
the
Japanese
Iris
is
thought
to
not
like
a
calcium
soil.
Most
Irises
are
sensitive
to
active
manure.
After
the
first
year
there
will
be
little
need
for
pro-
tecting
any
but
the
weakest
plants.
They
are
best
transplanted
after
blooming,
when
the
leaves
have
matured;
this
,will
be
in
August
or
September,
not
much
later,
for
roots
should
become
established
before
freezing.
The
Spring
is
