"Iris amabilis* Rootstocks slender, sheathed with the bases of the leaves: stems simple, slender, erect, or, when tall, slightly geniculate, glabrous, bright green : basal leaves short, chartaceous ; cauline leaves 2 or 3, the longest not extending to the flowers, narrow, 1.5 dm. long, 4 mm. wide, the margin with a narrow, white, minutely serrulate edge : spathes 2- flowered, the largest bract scarcely reaching the tube of the perianth, acuminate, green, with white membranous margins, the longest about 8 cm. long, inner ones shorter, more membranous : flowers on pedicels 2. 5 cm. long, longer than the 3-sided, linear-oblong ovary : tube of the perianth slender, cylindraceous, 3 cm. long, widening at the throat ; standards spatulate with broad claws longer than the blades and about half as wide, together 5 cm.; blade 1.5 cm. wide, pale cream or lilac-white, marked with lilac veins or dots, the central rib yellow except the upper three fourths of the blade ; falls pale lilac, lanceolate, undulate, 5 cm. long, 1.5 cm. wide : style-branches 3 cm. long, with oblong crests 1 cm. long, the margins erosely dentate ; scale of the stigma broadly deltoid, obtuse : stamens with broad, subulate filaments, half as long as the anthers, wider at base, together more than 2 cm.: fruit immature.This is closely related to Iris Douglasiana Herb. It is readily distinguished from any of the forms of that variable species by much narrower, paler green, very sharply attenuate leaves, and much longer and more slender calyx-tube. The flowers have a delicate perfume, and in this respect it differs from all other known species in California.This was collected by Mr. Charles \V. Kitts, at Nevada City, California, May, 1902. The description was made from fresh material." |