Gladiolus Studies — II 227 



The wild species have in most cases come to be looked upon as " pure 

 types," that is, plants that when self-fertilized will produce the parental 

 characters identically. In hybridization these types are crossed, and, 

 as before mentioned, the result is a new type bearing the characters of both 

 parents, the characters of the weaker, or recessive, being at first masked 

 by the predominating influence of the stronger. It is this type that is often 

 preferred, and when it is self -fertilized the result is a mixture of seedlings, 

 of which some are identical with one of the two parents and others possess 

 the parental characters in combination. It is therefore advantageous 

 that the gladiolus propagates \^egetatively, for only in this way could 

 a pure strain of the first-generation hybrid be preserved or any other 

 subsequent forms be obtained. 



Jackson (1889) published an account of hybrids made between Gladiolus 

 purpureo-auratus and G. gandavensis, and it is truly remarkable to see 

 how close his results are to true Mendelian proportions. It must be 

 remembered that it is very doubtful whether Jackson had ever seen 

 Mendel's paper, which was not widely known until 1900. To appreciate 

 his results the parents may best be briefly described. 



In G. purpureo-auratus the flower is deep, bell-shaped, and tubular. 

 The two lower petals are marked with broad, elongate blotches of maroon- 

 crimson. At the base of the blotch near the center of the flower, the 

 color heightens to a deep, rich crimson over a very small area. This 

 rich coloring is an important factor in the result obtained in the colors 

 of hybrids, in which the whole blotch is commonly a rich crimson. On 

 the margin of the blotches is a lip-like splash of golden yellow. The 

 color of the remainder of the flower is pale yellowish green. The plant 

 has foliage narrower than that of the gandavensis varieties. The spikes 

 are graceful and subarcuate, or bow-like. The flowers are rather far 

 apart, all facing one way; and in view of the arcuation of the flower 

 stalks, and the pendant bell-shape of the flowers, their interior is not 

 easily seen. 



Van Houtte, in his catalog for 1841, the year of its introduction, 

 describes G. gandavensis as follows: "Its dimensions surpass ramosus; its 

 majestic flowers, to the number of eighteen or twenty, are of a most 

 charming vermilion, their inferior petals adorned with chrome, amaranth, 

 and brown, are relieved by anthers of an azure blue which descend to the 

 center of the flower. "^ The lower petals are usually penciled by lines 

 of amethyst or maroon, this being one of the most prominent character- 

 istics of the variety. 



5 Translation from the original French. 



