Dykes in the Genus Iris, 1913;Description. Rootstock , a short-creeping rhizome, clothed in stiff dark brown sheathes. Leaves , firm, narrowly ensiform, about 12-18 in. by 1/3 in., of a glaucous green.. Stem , 18-20 in., naked.. Spathe valves , 2-4 in., scarious in upper part, narrow, sharply keeled, usually 2-flowered ; although a third flower is rarely produced. Pedicel , 1-1½ in.. Ovary , ½ in., sharply trigonal, with concave sides.. Tube , 3/8 in. long, purple, first constricted above the ovary and then expanding. Falls , narrowly obovate cuneate, with low rounded median ridge ; on either side of this the ground colour is yellow, especially beneath the ends of the styles. The blade is covered with diffuse lavender veins, on a faint lavender ground. The shade of lavender may be light or dark. Standards , oblanceolate unguiculate, slightly shorter than the falls, lavender, not blunt nor emarginate as in I. longipetala and I. montana. Styles , small, narrow. Crests , narrow, subquadrate, coarsely toothed. Stigma , entire, oblong. Filaments , shorter than anthers, pale violet.. Anthers , purple. Pollen , cream. Capsule, rounded trigonal, tapering gradually to either end.. Seeds , pyriform, with smooth brown coats. |