Dykes in The Genus Iris, 1913; Description. Rootstock , a thick fleshy rhizome, of a pale-green colour on the upper surface, with distinct rings where old leaves have become detached. Leaves , of a pale, yellowish-green, 2 feet or slightly more in length, 2-3 in. wide, thin, ribbed. Stem , 1-3 ft.; rises from a distichous tuft of many reduced leaves, much branched, with a pointed, bractlike leaf at each fork. Spathes , 2-3 or more flowered; valves keeled, pointed, green, scarious at the margin. Pedicel , about I-Ii in. long, semicircular in section. Ovary , dark green, triangular, with no obvious constriction at the base of the tube. Tube , about ½ in., pale green. Falls . Blade about 1¼ in. long, haft I in. Blade oblong with a curiously blunted, emarginate end, pale reddish purple, with darker veins and blotches. Haft white marked with deep purple veins. Crest orange with purple spots along the base, very much cut up so as to become almost a beard. Standards , rf in. by fin., oblong, spreading, with canaliculate haft; apex marginate with a distinct tooth in the centre of the notch. Styles , about 1 in. long. Crests , quadrate with a fimbriated edge. Stigma" , obscurely bilobed. *Filaments , short but slightly longer than the anthers. Anthers, short, cream. Pollen , white, similar to that of I. tectorum but somewhat smaller and of a less pointed oval. Capsule , oblong, much rounded, trigonal, somewhat inflated, with thin parchment-like walls, with slightly raised transverse veins. Seeds , very dark almost black, pyriform, with a slight ridge running down one side and a minute white aril.Observations.This Iris was named by Foster after Frank Miles, who introduced it into cultivation about 1880 from seeds collected by his cousin in Kulu. Some of these seeds were sent to Max Leichtlin and it was from him that Foster obtained the plants which he eventually described in the Gardeners' Chronicle. A later manuscript note makes it quite clear that the Manipur plant seemed to Foster to be merely I. Milesii and this is supported by the type of Baker's I. Wattii (K), which is obviously I. Milesii.Baker's description of his species exactly fits the latter except for the apparent absence of crest, which is not easy to distinguish even in very carefully dried specimens. From the decorative point of view this is distinctly a disappointing Iris. The foliage is bolder and more vigorous than that of nearly any other species and the much branched stem excites the curiosity of those who have not seen the flowers. These however are somewhat insignificant, for they are small, fugitive, and of a colour that is not altogether pleasing. It would seem to have possibilities for the hybridiser but, unfortunately, though self-fertilised flowers set abundant seed, pollen of other species seems hitherto to have had no effect. If the flowers of I. tectorum could be combined with the habit of I. Milesii; the result would be really valuable.There is said to be a variety superba with much finer flowers than the type but I have never so far met with a specimen worthy of the name. Seedlings have shown very little, if any, variation. I. Milesii is in many respects intermediate between I. tectorum and I. japonica. In the branching stem, the small fugitive flowers and the ring-like scars on the greenish rhizome, it closely resembles I. japonica, from which however it differs, in common with I. tectorum, in not being stoloniferous and in the deciduous character of the leaves. Autumn frosts that leave the foliage of I. japonica untouched, soon destroy that of I. Milesii·. Cultivation is comparatively easy and the directions apply that are given under the Observations on I. tectorum. |