GLADIOLUS. 199 



Subgenus II. Hebea. — Periauth-tube short ; segments dis- 

 tinctly unguiculato. Spathes largo . . . iSp. 110-12i 



Subgenus III. Schweiggera. — Flowers small ; segments dis- 

 tinctly unguiculate. Spathes small . . . Sp. 125-12G. 



Subgenus IV. Hoiioglossum. — Periantli-tube like that of a 

 Watsonia ; segments subequal .... Sp. 127-132. 



1. G. BYZANTiNus [Bdukin), Miller, Diet. ed. vii. No. 3 ; Ker in 

 Bot. Mag. t. 874 ; Eeich. Ic. Crit. t. 643. G. elatus Balb.— Corm 

 globose, f in. diam. ; tunics brown, membranous. Leaves generally 

 3, ensiform, about a foot long, ^-f in. broad, laxly ribbed. Stem 

 l|-2 ft. long. Spike lax, many-flowered, 6-9 in. long ; outer 

 spathe-valve lanceolate, 1-1^ in. long. Perianth-tube slightly 

 curved, -J— |- in. long; segments dark purple, 1-1^ in. long, about 

 equal in length ; 3 upper slightly imbricated in fully expanded 

 flower, |— f in. broad ; 3 lower with a claw as long as the blade, 

 and a white line down the centre. Anthers ^ in. long, exceeding 

 the filaments. Capsule turbinate, ^ in. long. Seeds turgid, with 

 a distinct membranous w'ug. 



Hab. Mediterranean region. Habit of G. secjetum, from which it differs 

 by its winged seeds and three upper perianth-segments contiguous when fully 

 expanded. It is more tender, and does not seed in English gardens, which 

 G. segetum does freely. It is figured both by Swertius and Parkinsor. 



2. G. COMMUNIS Linn. Sp. Plant. 52, ex parte ; Curt, in Bot. 

 Mag. t. 86 ; Ker in Bot. Mag. t. 1575 ; Ked. Lil. t. 267 ; Eeich. 

 Ic. Crit. tab. 598 ; Fl. Germ. tab. 349, fig. 777.— Corm I in. diam. ; 

 tunics of matted parallel fibres, reticulated upwards. Leaves 3-4, 

 ensiform, i-1 ft. long, |— f in. broad, laxly nerved. Spike lax, 

 secund, 4-8-flowered ; outer spathe-va^ve green, an inch long. 

 Perianth-tube curved, funnel-shaped, ^-\ in. long ; segments bright 

 purple, an inch long, about equal in length, all connivent when 

 fully expanded ; 3 lower with a long claw and white central 

 line. Anthers \ in. long, equalling the filaments. Capsule turbi- 

 nate, ^ in. long. Seeds broadly wmged. 



Hab. France, Switzerland, and Germany. I cannot from the description 

 distinguish the Ligurian G. Notarisii Pari. 



3. G. iMBEicATUS Linn. Sp. Plant, i. 52 ; M. B. Cent. Eoss. 

 t. 60; Eeich. Ic. Crit. tab. 599; Fl. Germ. tab. 350, tig. 778. 

 G. rossicus Pers. G. tenuis M. B. G. ijaliciensis Besser. G. 

 neglectiis Schult. G. Eaddcanns Trantv. G. sxihbljlorus and hi/ijro- 

 philus Boiss. — Corm globose, ^ in. diam. ; tunics of densely matted, 

 fine, parallel fibres, breaking up into an irregular fringe towards the 

 base. Leaves 2-3, linear, laxly veined, \-^ in. broad. Stem 

 slender, 1-1^ ft. long. Flowers 4-10 in a secund spike ; spathe- 

 valves green, lanceolate, f-1 in. long. Perianth-tube curved, ^ in. 

 long ; segments dark purple, obovate; obtuse, an inch long ; the 

 upper h in. broad ; the lower narrower, with a claw as long as the 

 blade. Capsule turbinate, \ in. long. Seeds broadly winged. 



Var. LiBANOTicus Boiss. — Spathe-valves more rigid, conspicuously 

 ribbed vertically. — Lebanon, alt. 5500 ft. 



