GLADIOLUS 



THE BULB BOOK 



GLADIOLUS 



Mag. t. 5565). The variety atratus is 

 distinguished by the absence of yellow 

 in the flowers. 



G. platyphyllus. This species from 

 Natal resembles G. dracocephalus in 

 appearance, but has broader, shorter, 

 opposite leaves, and a long spike of 

 deep yellow flowers veined with red 

 (Gard. Chron. 1893, xiv. 456). 



G. primulinus. A native of S.E. 

 Africa, having somewhat leathery 

 strongly ribbed leaves, 2 to 2i ft. long- 



FIG. 170. Gladiolus primulinus. (J.) 



and about 1 in. wide, and soft yet 

 clear primrose-yellow flowers, two to 

 four on a stem about a foot above the 

 leaves. This species was shown in 

 London for the first time on 23rd 

 August 1904, by Mr F. Fox, Alyn 

 Bank, Wimbledon, when it was stated 

 that the plant was a native of the 

 Rain Forest, Victoria Falls, Eiver 

 Zambesi, and grows in the spray of 

 the Falls. The petals act as an 

 umbrella for protecting the pistils 

 and stamens from the spray. This 



species has been named " Maid of the 

 Mist" on this account. The sketch 

 was taken from the plant exhibited 

 in 1904. (Gard. Chron. 1890, ii. 122.) 



G. princeps. This magnificent 

 hybrid was raised in America by Dr 

 Van Fleet, who fertilised the stigmas 

 of G. cruentm with pollen from the 

 flowers of G. Childsi. As the latter 

 hybrid itself is a cross between G. 

 gandavensis (psittacinm x cardinalis) 

 and G. Saundersi, it is obvious that 

 G. princeps has the blood of at least 

 four distinct species in its veins, and 

 possibly five if we consider that G. 

 oppositiftorm has probably played 

 a part in the origin of the ganda- 

 vensis breed. Dr Van Fleet's G. 

 princeps has crimson-scarlet flowers 

 of great richness and intensity, 

 relieved by touches of white, or fre- 

 quently by a white stripe across the 

 centre of the lower petals, which are 

 very full and rounded. The flowers 

 appear late in August and September, 

 when other kinds are already fading, 

 and although only a few flowers are 

 open at one time, this defect is atoned 

 for by their great size and lasting 

 qualities. 



G. psittacinus (G. natalensis). A 

 beautiful species with sword-like 

 leaves a foot or more long, and stout 

 erect flower-stems about 3 ft. high. 

 The large bell-shaped flowers, ten to 

 twelve on a spike, are rich scarlet, 

 lined and spotted with yellow. This 

 is one of the original parents of the 

 gandavensis hybrids (Bot. Mag. t. 

 3032; Bot. Reg. t. 1442; Sw. Brit. 

 Fl. Gard. ii. t. 281 ; Lodd. Bot. Cab. 

 t. 1756.) The variety Cooperi has 

 yellow flowers strongly lined with 

 reddish-purple (Bot. Mag. t. 6002). 



G. pudibundus. A pretty garden 

 hybrid between G. blandus and G. 

 cardinalis. It grows from 2 to 3 ft. 

 high, having broad, ribbed, pointed 

 leaves, and about a dozen large bright 



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