228 HANDBOOK OF IREDEiE. 



1-11 in. long, cylindrical in the upper two-tliirds ; segments 

 obloijg-unguiculate, subequal, ^-f in. long. Stamens nearly as 

 long as the segments. 



Hab. Cape Colony ; south-western provinces. 



132. G. NERvosus Baker. Antholi/m nervosa Tliunb. — Corm 

 large, globose ; tunics breaking up into fine fibres ; inner produced 

 as liiittened bristles above its neck. Basal leaves 4-0, rigid, ensi- 

 form, strongly ribbed, ^-1 ft. long. Stem terete, 1-2 ft. long. 

 Flowers in a dense e'|uilateral spike 3-6 in. long ; spatlie-valves 

 firm, oblong-lanceolate, ^-^ in. long. Perianth bright red, with a 

 curved tube l-lj in. long, cylindrical in the upper two-thirds ; seg- 

 ments oblauceolate-unguiculate, ^-f in. long, the lower spreading. 

 Stamens nearly as long as the segments. 



Hab. Cape Colony ; southern provinces. 



Hybrid Gladioli. 



A large proportion of the garden Gladioli are of hybrid origin. 

 The best general account of these will be found in Dean Herbert's 

 paper in Journ. Hort. Soc. vol. ii. p. 87-91. The following are the 

 principal hybrid types to which Latin names have been given : — 



1. (t ijandavensis Hort. Van Houtte, figured Flore des Serres, 

 March, 1846, t. i. ; and Paxton's Magazine, xi. 27, which appears 

 to be psittaciniis crossed with cardinalis, not with oppositijlorus, as 

 Herbert supposed. To this belong most of the late-liowering, 

 bright-coloured types, with a strongly-hooded horizontal upper 

 segment, including G. hrenchhjensis. G. citrinus Flore des Serres, 

 t. 639, has a flower of similar size and shape, but bright yellow. 



2. G. ramosus, figured Paxton's Magazine, vi. 99, between car- 

 dinalis and opposiiifiorus. — The flower is openly funnel-shaped, 

 bright red, with dark blotches at the base of the three lower 

 segments. Allied to this are the four forms figured as jioribundiis 

 in Ann. Gand. v. 53. The hybrids of this group are more hardy 

 and flower earlier than those of the last. 



3. G. pudihundus, figured Paxton, Mag. ii. 197, and Sweet, Brit. 

 Flow. Gard. ser. 2, t. 176, between cardinalis and blandus. G. 

 ISp'ijf'ortliianus Herb, has the same parents. G . ]Villnioreanus Flore 

 des Serres, t. 239, said to be a cross between (jandacensis and /7ori- 

 bundus, is much nearer the latter. 



4. G. Colvillci, figured Sweet, Brit. Flow. Gard. ser. i. t. 55, a 

 cross between cardinalis and tristis concolor, has bright scarlet sub- 

 erect flowers, with oblong acute segments, with a lanceolate blotch 

 of bright yellow at the base of the three lower. G, Colvillei 

 albus (The Bride) is a frequently-cultivated form, with pure white 

 flowers. 



M. Souchet, of Fontainebleau, commenced his experiments in 

 1831, and worked mainly with cardinalis, (jandavensis and blandus. 

 The principal raiser of new forms in England has been Mr. Kelway, 

 of Langport, in Somersetshire. 



5. G. Lemoinei Hort. — M. Lemoine, of Nancy, has lately raised 

 a series of forms with bright yellow and bright red flowers with 



