15. 



GLADIOLUS CARDINALIS. 



Superb Corn Flag. 



Triandria. Monogynia. 



Class 3. Order 1. 



Gladiolus, mentioned by Pliny j supposed to have derived this name 

 from gladius, a sword, aUuding to the shape of the leaf. 



Linn. gen. n. 57. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Cal. a spathe, two-valved, inferior, shorter than the corolla ; valves 

 oblong, permanent ; the outer one larger, inclosing the inner. Cor. 

 one-petaled, superior ; tube cylindric, bent ; border somewhat 

 bell -shaped, six-parted ; segments oblong, form erect-patulous, 

 the uppermost and lowest lateral, either without or within. Stam. 

 Filaments three, inserted into the orifice of the tube, filifoiin, 

 shorter than the corolla. Anthers ovate, incumbent. Pist. Germ 

 inferior, triangular. Style filiform. Stigmas three, rolled back 

 and spreading, blunt, villose. Per. Capsule ovate, three-cornered, 

 blunt, three-celled, three-valved. Seeds very many, smooth. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Leaves sword-shaped, many-nerved. Flowers all directed the same 

 way, many on a stem. Corolla upright, with a bell-shaped border. 



Root solid, round, covered with a brown membrane. Stem 

 round, about two feet in height ; leaves embracing the stem 

 at bottom ; flowers on the extremity of the stem on one side 

 of it, in great numbers, of a fine scarlet, with a large white 



