The Botanical Magazine/Volume 1/9

by William Curtis

[ 9 ]

Iris Pumila. Dwarf Iris.

❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈❈

Class and Order.

Triandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Corolla sex-partita: Petalis alternis, reflexis. Stigmata petaliformia.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

IRIS pumila corollis barbatis, caule foliis breviore unifloro. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 78. Sp. Plant. p. 56. Jacq. Fl. Austr. t. 1.

CHAMÆIRIS minor flore purpureo. Bauh. Pin. 33.

The lesser purple dwarf Flower-de-luce. Park. Parad. p. 186.

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Gardeners, in former days, not having that profusion of plants to attend to and cultivate, which we can at present boast, appear to have been more solicitous in increasing generally the varieties of the several species; accordingly, we find in the Paradisus terrestris of the venerable Parkinson, no less than six varieties of this plant^[1], most of which are now strangers to the Nursery Gardens. We may observe, that varieties in general not being so strong as the original plant, are consequently much sooner lost.

The Iris pumila grows wild in many parts of Hungary, affects open and hilly situations, and flowers in our gardens in the month of April; it is a very hardy plant, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; is propagated by parting its roots in autumn.

1. The lesser purple dwarf Flower-de-luce with white blossoms,
   ————— ————— ————— straw-colour ditto.
   ————— ————— ————— pale blue ditto.
   ————— ————— ————— blush-coloured ditto.
   ————— ————— ————— yellow variable ditto, and the purple dwarf Sea Flower-de-luce of the same author, is probably no other than a variety.