Tas. 5944, 
GLADIOLUS PURPUREO-AURATUS. 
Native of Natal. 
Nat. Ord. Intnea.—Tribe, GLADIOLE&. 
Genus GuiapioLus, Linn. ; (Endl. Gen. Plant., p. 168). 
GLADIOLUS purpureo-auratus ; caule elato gracillimo, foliis scapo multoties 
brevioribus breviter ensiformibus acuminatis strictis erectis, scapo 
simplici v. diviso, racemo laxifloro inter flores nudo, floribus fere 
bifariis, bracteis lanceolatis tubo perianthii longioribus pallide viridibus, 
perianthii subhorizontalis tubo brevi, limbi equali late campanulati 
segmentis late obovato-spathulatis apicibus recurvis obtuse acuminatis 
aureis, interioribus angustioribus, 2 anticis disco late purpurato, stigma- 
tibus lineari-spathulatis emarginato-2-fidis. 
The Natal Colony appears to be the head-quarters of the 
handsomer and more varied species of this fine genus; only 
last year the contrast was pointed out between the lurid, 
snake-headed flowers of @. dracocephalus (Tab. nost. 5884), and 
the vivid colouring of G. Saundersi (Tab. nost. 5873) ; to these 
must be added the most gorgeous of its race, G. cruentus (‘Tab. 
nost. 5810), and now, in the present plate, one of the most 
graceful and delicate, which is further remarkable for the pale 
golden-yellow of its flower, a very unusual colour in the 
- genus. Mr. Baker, who has paid special attention to this 
genus, informs me that it is undescribed, and is not identifi- 
able with any species in the Herbarium at Kew, but that it is 
nearest to G. hirsutus (Tab. nost. 574) and G. Gondavensis, 
Hort. ; the former of which is a hairy pink-flowered species, 
and the latter a yellow one. G. aurantiacus, Klatt, another 
yellow flowered species, has a much longer perianth-tube. 
Gladiolus purpureo-auratus was imported from Natal by Mr. 
Bull of Chelsea, to whom I am indebted for the specimen 
JANUARY Ist, 1872. 
