PLATE 342. 



GLADIOLUS SAUNDKRSII, Hook. (Fl. Cap. Vol. VI., p. 158.) 

 Natural Order, 



Corm subglobose, depressed, 1 to 2 inches diameter. Leaves 4 to 8, ensiform, 

 ribbed, but not always strongly so, glabrous, 1 to 2 feet long, ^ to 1 inch broad. 

 ritem including inflorescence 1^ to 3 feet long ; spike laxly 4 to 8-flowered ; 

 spathe-valves green, lanceolate, 1^ to 2 inches long. Perianth tube, straight or 

 curved, 1 to 1^ inches long, widely opening from throat, limb 6-lobed, lobes mucro- 

 nulate, the three upper lobes largest, oblong-spathulate, acute, bright scarlet, 

 usually without markings, 1 to 2J inches long, 1 to 1^ inch broad; the three lower 

 ones similar in shape, but a little shorter and narrower; all mucronulate, the upper 

 half scarlet, central portion with an irregular band of creamy white, which is 

 usually produced into a spike-like point in upper portion in centre, lower half 

 scarlet mottled with white. Stamens 3, unilateral, reaching nearly to the apex of 

 perianth lobes, filaments filiform, inserted at throat of tube ; anthers about 6 lines 

 long, linear, pink, 2-celled, basifixed. Ovary 3-celled, many ovuled, ovules super- 

 posed ; style filiform, 3-brancheii, branches short, gradually thickened and flattened 

 at apex. Ripe capsule and seeds not seen. 



Habitat : NATAL : Krantz Kop, McKen, No. 17; Inanda, 1800 feet alt, Wood, 

 No. 1216. Also in Cape Colony and Transvaal. 



This is one of the handsomest of our species of Gladiolus, and is not very 

 common. It is usually found in crevices of rocks, with its leaves and flowers hang- 

 ing downwards, and often in quite inaccessible places. It varies much in size, and 

 also in the markings of the perianth lobes, the creamy white band on the three 

 lower lobes l>eing commonly as described in the text, and the three upper lobes 

 concolourous, but occasionally the spike -like point is absent, and in a living speci- 

 men now before me the central upper lobe has two conspicuous creamy white 

 blotches, one near each margin, and one of the lateral lobes has the same markings 

 as the lower lobes, but not so conspicuous. The texture of the leaves also, no 

 doubt, alters according to the situation in which the plant is grown. In the Fl. 

 Capensis they are described as " rigid in texture, strongly ribbed," but in the speci- 

 men from which I describe, which was brought from Umzinyati Falls, near Durban, 

 and flowered in the Botanic Gardens, February, 1904. they are as stated above, 

 neither rigid nor strongly ribbed. 



Fig. 1, style and stigmas; 2, ovary; 3, stigma much more enlarged; 4, 

 stamen, front view ; o, same, back view ; 6, longitudinal section of ovary ; all 



enlarged. 



