1 



PLATE XXXVIII. 



GLADIOLUS PRECOX. Far. fore rubro. 

 Red early-flowering Gladiolus. 



CLASS III. ORDER I. 

 TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal. 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Corolla 6-partita, ringens. 

 Stamina adlcendcntia. 



Blossom fix divifions, gaping. 

 Chives attending. 



See Plate XI. Gladiolus koseus. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Gladiolus foliis enfiformibus, apicibus tortis, 

 lineari-cruciatis; corollis fub-campanula- 

 tis, rubris; petalis acuminatis. 



Gladiolus with fword ihaped leaves, twitted at 

 the ends, linear, and crofs-fhaped; blofibms 

 nearly bell-ihaped, and red; petals fliarp- 

 pointed. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. The two Sheaths of the Empalement. 



2. A Bloflbm cut open, to expofe the fituation of the Chives. 



3. The Pointal, one of the Summits magnified. 



4. A Seed. 



Of all the fpecies of this numerous Genus, this is the firft to expand its blolTbms, feldom flowering 

 later than April; is extremely hardy, fcarce. requiring the warmth of a greenhoufe for its protection, 

 although a native of the Cape. About the year 1791, the bulbs of this plant were purchafed of 

 Meflis. Voorhelm, and Co. of Haarlem, in Holland, by Meflrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammerfmith, at 

 whole nurfery it has repeatedly flowered, and where this figure was taken. It is propagated by the 

 root, as other Gladiolus, and requires the fame earth, a light fandy peat. 



