224 breck's new book of flowers 



violet inside. The flowers do not produce much show 

 where a single plant is grown, but it should be grown 

 in' masses like the last described species. 



G. capitata. — Headed Gilia. — A pi'etty, iiardy annual, 

 with blue, and a variety with white, flowers in clustered 

 heads. From June to August, two feet high. 



G, androsacea. — Leptosiphon androsaccus. — This is a 

 very pretty, hardy annual, of humble growth, six or 

 eight inches high ; varying in the color of its flowers, 

 from white to pale-pink, red, or purple. It is a valuable 

 little plant for flowering early in the summer, from au- 

 tumn-sown seeds. The leaves of this plant are deeply 

 divided into segments, always consisting of an even num- 

 ber, as four, six, eight, etc. 



In addition to these there are G. achillicefolia^ gera- 

 nicefoUa^ nmlticaulis^ nivalis^ and others, all pretty an- 

 nuals. 



GLADIOLUS.-CoRN Flag. 



[From the Latin gladius, a sworJ, in allusion to the shape of the leaves.] 



This is called Sword-Lily, Corn-Flag, Corn-Sedge, etc., 

 etc. ; in French, le Glaieul. The genus embraces a num- 

 ber of species, some of which are planted in autumn and 

 others in the spring. G. Byzantinus^ from Turkey, and 

 G. communis^ from the South of Europe, with few vari- 

 eties, have been in cultivation for more than two hun- 

 dred years ; they are raised by the Dutch Florists and 

 sent out annually to their customers with Tulips, Hya- 

 cinths, and other bulbs. They are planted in autumn and 

 flower the next June ; the colors are purple, red, and 

 white. All the other species liave bulbous roots, and re- 

 quire to be taken up in autumn and dried, or kept in pots 

 in the green-house 



