(SPEC) Iris fragrans Lindley ('Fragrans')
1840, Lindley
Iris fragrans described by Lindley in
The Botanical Register 26: tab 1, 1840 with color illustration it is a synonym of
Iris lactea Pallas.
IRIS fragrans. Sweet-scented Iris.
TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA, Nat. ord. Iridaceae
IRIS. Botanical Register, voL ^./ol. 246
fragrami imberbis, foliis ensiformibus angustis glaucescentibus caulis multiflori longitudine, ovariis fusiformibus bracteis herbaceis longioribus^ perianthii tubo nullo, sepalorum limbo rbomboideo integro, petalis spathulato-lanceolatis integerrimis basi angustatis sepalorum longitudine, stylis fissis.
This very distinct species of Iris is a native of the North of India, where it was found by Professor Royle. In habit it resembles the I. decora of Wallich, which is the I. nepalensis of Don, but its flowers are altogether different ; it is also extremely like the I. sulcata of Wallich's Indian herbarium, no. 5049, referred to I. decora by Professor Royle, but from which it appears to be distinguished by the form of the fruit, which, in I. fragrans, when young, is fusiform and longer than the bracts, while in sulcata it is oblong and shorter than bracts. I. longifolia a Cashmere species, figured in the Illustrations of the Botany of the Himalayan Mountains resembles this in the form of the leaves, but they are described as being scabrous at the margin is moreover the scape is very' short and one-flowered in that plant, and the lobes of the style are said to be entire as in the absence of a tube to the flower the two correspond.
The fragrance of the flo\ of this species make desirable border plant, in addition to its pretty appearance. It is found to be a very hardy perennial, requiring about the same treatment as the common Iris sibirica, growing freely in any rich soil, and blossoming about the end of June. It may be easily increased by dividing the old stock.
The accompanying figure was taken in the Garden of the Horticultural Society, from plants raised in 1 835 from seeds
presented by Dr. Royle. They sustained without injury the rigour of the winter of 1837-8.
As it has not yet fruited I am unable to state whether the skin of its seed is membranous or succulent, or whether the seed itself is flat or round.
January f 1640
Baker
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