Watsonia.] trIDEx (Baker), 101 
__ 3. W. Meriana (Miller, Gard. Dict. edit. viii No. 1; Ie. ii. 
184, t. 276); corm globose, 1-14 in. diam.; tunics of reticulated 
fibres, ending at the top in a ring of bristles; stems 3-4 ft, long 
including the inflorescence, usually branched; basal leaves 3-4, 
ensiform, rigid in texture, 1-2 ft. long, }-? in. broad; flowers 12-20, 
arranged in lax spikes 6-9 in. long, usually bright rose-red, rarely 
scarlet or white; spathe-valves oblong-lanceolate, brownish, rigid in 
texture, 3~1 in. long; perianth-tube curved, 14-2 in. long, cylin- 
drical in the upper half; throat }4 in, diam. ; segments oblong- 
cuspidate, about ~ in. long; style not reaching the tip of the 
perianth-segments ; anthers } in. long. Ker in Konig and Sims’ 
Ann. i. 280; Baker, Handb. Irid. 175. Antholyza Meriana, Linn. 
Sp. Plant. edit. 2,54; Ourt.in Bot. Mag. t.418. Gladiolus Merianus, 
Red. Lil. t. 11; Jacq. Ic. t. 230. G. marginatus, Thunb., ex parte. 
Mertana flore rubello, Trew, Ehret, 11, t. 40. W. litura, Klatt, 
Erginz, 19. 
Van. 8, W. iridifolia (Ker in Bot. Mag. sub t. 600); leaves broader than in 
the type; flowers closer and more numerous, white or pinkish. Gladiolus 
tridifolius, Jacq. Ic. t. 234. ‘ 
Var. y, W. roseo-alba (Ker in Bot. Mag. t. 537); perianth-tube more slender 
‘than in the type and segments narrower. Gladiolus roseo-albus, Jacq. Hort. 
Schoenbr. i. 7, =.18. W. Ludwigii, Eckl. MSS. 
Var. 3, W. dubia (Eckl. Top. Verz. 36); leaves linear; spathes-valves 14-2 
in. long; perianth-tube 2 in. long, } in. diam. at throat; segments narrower 
than in the type, oblong-spathulate, # in, long. Klatt in Linn@a xxxii. 741. 
Vag. ¢, platypetata (Baker); flowers many in a long spike, bright rose-red, 
with shorter, broader, rather imbricated segments. 
SourH Argica: without locality, Thunberg ! 
Coast Recion: Paarl Mouritains, 1000-2000 ft., Drége ! Worcester Div., 
Coo 1626! Algoa Bay, Cooper, 3179! Albany Piv.; near Grahamstown, 
Mictiek: 94! Var. B, Piquetberg, 1500-3000 ft., Drége, 8439! Var. 3, New 
Kloof, near Tulbagh, Drége / 
Karanari Reeioy: Var. y, Transvaal, Sanderson / 
Eastern Recion: Natal; on a stony hill near Byrne, 4550 ft., Wood, 1874! 
Kaffraria, Cooper, 67! 456! 3180! 
4, W. densiflora (Baker in Journ. Bot. 1876, 336) ; corm globose, 
lin. diam. ; tunics of parallel strands of matted fibres ; stems simple, 
terete, erect, 2~3 ft. long ineluding the inflorescence ; basal leaves 4-6, 
rigidly coriaceous, ensiform, 2-3 ft. long, }-} in. broad ; flowers 
40-50, arranged in a dense spike 1 ft. long, all imbricated; outer 
spathe-valve oblong-lanceolate, acute, brown, rigid, 1 in. long ; 
perianth bright rose-red, rarely white; tube curved, 13-1} in. 
long, narrowly funnel-shaped in the upper half, $ in. diam, at the 
throat ; segments of the limb oblong, cuspidate, 3 in, long ; style 
not reaching to the tip of the perianth-segments ; anthers § in. long, 
just protruded from the perianth-tube. Bot. Mag. t.6400; Handb. 
Irid. 176; Klatt, Ergénz. 18. 
Katanart Recton: Transvaal; Saddleback Range, near Barberton, 3500~ 
5000 ft., Galpin, 813! Orange Free State, Cooper, 886! . 
RasteRrNn ppd : Natal; Inanda, Wood, 538! Rodeborough, 4000 ft., Miss 
