Iris spuria var. maritima Dykes, Gen. Iris: 59 (1913). Rootstock , a somewhat slender, hard rhizome, which remains clothed with the bases of old leaves, which, however, do not split readily into fibres. Leaves , upright, stiff, ribbed, dark-green, subglaucescent, linear-ensiform, tapering gradually to an acute point, ¼-i in. by 1 2 in. at flowering time, but growing longer subsequently. Stem , about 10-12 in., round, sheathed in 3 or 4 reduced leaves, which entirely hide the internodes and bearing a terminal head of two flowers and sometimes one or two lateral spicate heads, each of a single flower. Spathe valves , firm, green, somewhat inflated, over, the outer valve alone being slightly keeled. Pedicel, about 1 in. in length. lanceolate, remaining green long after the flowers are ½ in. by 2½ in. Ovary , ½-¾ in. long, with 6 ribs arranged in 3 pairs, and a tapering neck, which is similarly ribbed. Tube , broad, under ½ in. long. Falls. The lanceolate haft is separated by a distinct constriction from the almost orbicular blade, which is about half as long as the haft. At the base the colour is due to red purple veins on a white ground ; on the blade these veins become a deep blue purple, and the ground-work is of a slightly paler shade of the same colour. The central ridge is greenish yellow with faint purple dots. Standards , slightly shorter than the falls, oblanceolate-unguiculate, of a deep violet-blue colour, slightly edged with yellow in the lower part. Styles , narrow oblong. Crests , small, triangular or subquadrate. Stigma , bifid, with two distinct points. Filaments , broad, dark purple. Anthers , purple, edged with yellow. Pollen , orange. Capsule , oblong, beaked, with a double ridge at each angle, 1-2 in. long. Seeds , brown, smooth, ~more or less cubical, enveloped in a loose, dark, papery covering. |