IRIS FAMILY. 423 



13. SPARAXIS. (Greek: to tear, referring to the torn spathes.) 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



5. grandifldra, Ker. (S. fimbriIta, S. lAcera, S. LiliXgo, S. atro- 

 puRPtJREA, and others.) Stem terete and erect, 6'-2° high, simple or 

 branched, with a few linear or lanceolate leaves near the base ; flowers 

 yellow or purple (but variable in cultivation) , the segments 1' or more long. 



S. tricolor, Ker. (S. vERsfcoLOR, S. lineAta, and others.) Differs 

 from the last in always having a bright yellow throat and a dark blotch 

 at the base of each segment. 



14. GLADIOLUS, CORN FLAG. (Name a diminutive of the Latin 

 word for sword, from the leaves.) A genus of about 130 .species, many 

 of which are in cultivation. The commonest garden forms are hybrids, 

 derived from the following, in which the perianth tube is funnel-shaped, 

 and the segments are not distinctly narrowed into claws. 



* Leaves subterete or linear. 



G. trfstis, Linn. Leaves 3, subterete, strongly 3-5-ribbed, a foot or 

 two long ; stem slender and terete, l°-2° high ; flowers 3-4, yellowish- 

 white, in a loose secund spike, fragrant ; flower 2'-3' long, the tube curved 

 and longer than the oblong and acute falcate segments. Cape of Good 

 Hope. G. coNCOLOR is a form with paler flowers, noted as being one of 

 the parents of the garden race, G. CoLvfLLEi (see G. cardinalis). 



G. cuspidatus, Jacq. Leaves 3-4, flat but linear ; stems l°-2° high ; 

 flowers white or pale pink with a spade-shaped blotch in the center of the 

 3 outer segments, 4-8 in a very lax, nearly or quite equilateral spike ; 

 perianth tube 2'-3' long, slightly curved, the segments oblong-lanceolate 

 and wavy. Cape of Good Hope. 



* ♦ Leaves distinctly ensiform. 



t- Flowers (at least the body-color) yellow. 



G. purpOreo-auratus, Hook. f. Leaves 3-4, rigid, the lowest about 1° 

 long ; stem 2°-4° high ; flowers 10-15 in a lax secund spike ; flower yel- 

 lowish, with a large red-brown blotch on the 2 inner segments of the 

 outer series, the tube curved and less than an inch long, the segments 

 obovate and spatulate or clawed. Cape of Good Hope. This, with the 

 hybrid G. Gandavensis, is a parent of the hybrid race known as G. Le- 

 MoiNEi, which has bright yellow and red flowers with brown blotches on 

 the lower segments. 



G. psittac)nus, Hook. Leaves about 4, rigid, l°-2° long ; stem 2°-3° ; 

 flowers many in a lax secund spike ; flower with a yellow ground and 

 coarsely grained with red, the curved tube 2' or less long, the upper seg- 

 ments obovate and much hooded, the 3 lower reflexed and much smaller. 

 Cape of Good Hope. Parent, with G. cardinalis, of the hybrid class G. 

 Gandavensis, to which belong most of the older bright-flowered and late 

 varieties. The upper segment, in these varieties, is usually horizontal 

 and strongly hooded. G. Brenchlyensis, of like parentage, is still a 

 popular strain. 



1- -t- Flowers normally lohite, at least in ground-color. 



G. oppositifldrus. Herb. Leaves 3-4, crowded, the lowest l°-2° long ; 

 stem 2^-3° high ; flowers often 30-40, in a dense 2-ranked spike ; flower 

 white, the tube slender and curved (1^' or less long), the segments oblong- 

 spatulate and subacute. Cape. Interesting as being a parent, with 

 G. cardinalis, of the hybrids known as G. ram6sus (sometimes called 

 G. floribi'nuls, but not to be confounded with the species of that name). 

 This hybrid race is little known in this country, as it does not flower 

 well unless the corms are planted in the fall. The plants are tall, with 



