124 Cornell Extension Bulletin g 



The flowers shown in foho lo appear to belong to different species. 

 Ker identifies Figure ii with G. imhricatus Linn, and Figures in and iv 

 with G. communis Linn. The plants shown in Figures ii and in of 

 folio 12 are probably of the same species, possibly G. segetum, while 

 Figure i belongs to a secund-flowered species. 



Ray (1686-1704) writes of the corn flag as of no great esteem, and only 

 consents to admit the plant to the flower garden because the flowers bloom 

 at a season — in June and July — when there are not many other flowers. 

 He mentions Gladiolus byzantinus, G. flore suave rubente, and G. flore alba, 

 and names three other commoner varieties — two French corn flags, 

 one with ash-colored and the other with red flowers, and the Italian com 

 flag "that beareth saddei red flowers on both sides of the stalks." He 

 says further that G. byzantinus is somewhat tender and should be pro- 

 tected, but the others are hardier. 



Miller (1731) describes the following species: 



1. Gladiolus utriiique floridiis. C. B. P.^ Cornflag with Flowers on both Sides 

 the Stalks. 



2. Gladiolus carnei coloris. Swert. Flor.^ Flesh-colour'd Cornflag. 



3. Gladiolus florihus una versu dispositis, major, fieri s colore purpilreo-rubente. 



C. B. P. Great Cornflag, with reddish-purple Flowers rang'd on one Side 

 the Stalk. 



4. Gladiolus major Byzantinus. C. B. P. Great Cornflag of Constantinople. 



5. Gladiolus utrinque floridiis, floribus albis. H. R. Mons.'" Cornflag with white 



Flowers rang'd on each side the Stalk. 



6. Gladiolus inaximus Indicus. C. B. P. The largest Indian Cornflag. 



In a later edition (1 7 54) he adds the following: 



7. Gladiolus floribus uno versu dispositis, major and procerior, flore candicante. 



C. B. P. Greater and taller Cornfl.ag, with whitish Flowers rang'd. all on 

 one vSide. 



8. Gladiolus floribus uno versu dispositis, minor and humilior. C. B. P. Snrialler 



and lower Cornflag, with Flowers ranged on one Side. 



9. Gladiolus minor, floribus uno versu dispositis incarnatis. H. L. Smaller Corn- 



flag, with flesh-coloured Flowers ranged on one Side. 



10. Gladiolus utrinque floridus, flore rubra. C. B. P. Cornflag with red Flowers 



on both Sides. 



11. Gladiolus floribus uno versu dispositis, minor. C. B. P. Smaller Cornflag, with 



Flowers ranged on one Side. 



It is probable that among the latter species nos. 7, 8, 9, and 11 are 



varieties of no. 3, and that nos. 5 and 10 are varieties of no. i. Miller 



says that all these sorts of com flag are 



propagated by their tuberose Roots, which the first, second, and fifth Sorts produce 

 in great Plenty; so that in a few Years, if they are sufifer'd to remain unremov'd, they 

 will spread very far, and are hardly to be intirely rooted out, when they have once 



gotten Possession of the Ground These roots may be taken up 



in July, when their Leaves decay, and may be kept out of the Ground until October. 



^ C. B. P.= Casper Bauhin's Pinax. 



9 Swert. Flor.^ Swertius' Florilegium. 



1° H. R. Mons.^ Catalogue of Royal Garden at Montpelier. 



