Gladiolus Studies — I 143 



was published in Citrtis's Botanical Magazine from specimens collected more 

 recently, but it is there stated that the plant was identical with herbarivmi 

 specimens left by Herbert. 



G. primulintis Baker is from Usagara Mountains, in Africa, and was 

 first flowered at Kew in 1S90 from corms sent by J. F. Last, who discovered 

 it in 1 8S 7. It was reintroduced by Francis Fox, who procured some plants 

 from Rain Forest, Victoria Falls, and flowered them at Wimbledon, Eng- 

 land. C. E. Allen says it grows in " one of the wettest spots near the Falls 

 in a perpetual deluge." WTien this species was introduced it was regarded 

 as a distinct species, but later it was referred to G. Quart: nianits A. Rich., 

 which was introduced into cultivation by Sir John Kirk in 1884. The clear, 

 tmiform primrose color of the flowers, without any tendency toward 

 markings, warrants its retention for hortictiltural purposes. At least 

 G. primuliuus has now become better known than G. Ouartinianiis, and 

 in garden Hterature it will doubtless be retained. 



G. psittacinns Hook. (Splendid Com Flag) is from the Cape and has 

 been called the parrot, or perroquet, gladiolus. In Holland it was early 

 known as G. Daeleni, after Dr. Dael, of Brussels, who is said to have 

 been the first in Europe to flower it. Reinwardt named it G. natalensis, 

 and under one or the other of the latter names it appears in early literature. 

 It was first flowered in Great Britain by Richard Harrison, of Liverpool, 

 in 1830. from corms procured from Prince de Salm-Dyck. The species was 

 figured in the Botanical Register (1831), tab. 1442, and in Curiis's Botanical 

 Magazine, tab. 3032. 



Sweet (1832-35) figured and described this species under the name G. 

 natalensis Reinw.. Xatal Com Flag. He says it was "* introduced by 

 Professor Reinwardt, of Leyden, who has liberally distributed bulbs of 

 it to various collections both in this country* and on the Continent. It 

 is by far the largest in growth, and in beauty of its flowers it is not sur- 

 passed by any others of the genus. The plant seems to be quite as hardy 

 as G. byzantintis and requires the same soil and treatment as that species." 

 G. psittacinns is one of the parents of G. gandavefisis Hort. 



G. psittacinns var. Cooperi Baker has segments more acute than in 

 the type, and the tube is from two and one-half to three inches long. 



G. purpureo-Guratus Hook. f.. from Xatal. was introduced by William 

 Bull, of Chelsea (who also introduced G. criientus), and was first flowered 

 in England in August. 187 1. This is the hardiest of the African species. 

 The corms are large, and the cormels are produced on the ends of running 

 rootstocks. The leaves are somewhat glaucous, narrow, and stiff. The 

 stems are from one and one-half to two feet tall. From ten to fifteen 

 blooms are borne in one rank on the spike. The color of the flowers 

 is greenish yellow, with a diamond-shaped maroon blotch on the two 



