PLATE LXVL 



GLADIOLUS POLYSTACHIUS. 



Branching Gladiolus. 



CLASS III. ORDER I. 

 TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal. 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Corolla (5-partita, ringens. 

 Stamina adfcendentia. 



Blossom of fix divifions, and gaping. 

 Chives afcending. 



See Plate XI. Gladiolus roseu>. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Gladiolus foliis falcatis; caule polyftachio; co- 

 rollis fub-regularibus, carneis. 



Gladiolus with cymitar-fhaped leaves.: fern manv 

 branches; bloifoms nearly regular, audflefli 

 colour. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1. Tlie Empalement. 



2. A Blofibm cut open, with the Chives attached. 



3. The Pointal and Seed-bud, one fummit magnified. 



Tins fpecies of Gladiolus has been long known in herbariums, as it is very common about Table 

 mountain, at the Cape of Good Hope j Jacquin, Thunberg, Gmelin, Welldenow, &rc. have it under the 

 tribe of Ixia, with the fpecific names of Scillaris, Fabricii, &c. but notwithfianding, we have no 

 hefitation in placing it under its true genus Gladiolus. The upright character of the chives, their 

 inlertion into the tube of the blolfom, and not at the mouth, the difference in the fhape of the petals, 

 the fituation of the fummits behind the chives, &c. leave no room for doubt where its ftation fliould 

 be. Although plentiful at the Cape, it has not been long an inhabitant of this clime; having flowered 

 for the firft time in the year 1797» at Bulftrode, the feat of his Grace the Duke of Poitland. What 

 contributes much to the value of this plant is, that it continues in flower at leaft two months, from 

 the beginning of June till the end of July; propagates itfelf abundantly by the roots, which are not 

 fubjeiSt to rot, though not removed from the pots in which they have flowered. Thrives in peat earth. 



