. 
553 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
two-lipped perianth, with short, curved tube and oval unequal segments. 
The three stamens are inserted on the perianth tube; the ovary is egg- 
shaped, the style thread-like, with three stigmas. The fipeatei is leathery, 
three-celled, containing many seeds. Fifteen species are natives of 
Europe and Western Asia, the others being natives of the Cape and 
Tropical Africa. 
Three hundred years ago only the European species 
’ of Gladiolus were known here, including G. communis (of 
which our Hampshire G. illyricus is regarded by Hooker as a variety) 
and G. segetum. In 1629 G. byzantinus was introduced from Turkey, 
but most of the others came from the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good 
Hope, as witness this list of South African species, with the dates of 
introduction: G. tristis, 1745; G. recurvus, 1758; G. vittatus, 1760; 
G. blandus, 1774; G@. floribundus, 1788; G. cardinalis, 1789; G. grandis, 
1794; G. cuspidatus, 1795; G. papilio, 1866; G. cruentus, 1868; G. 
purpurea-auratus, 1872. G. brachyandrus came from Tropical Africa 
in 1879. But these species, though beautiful in themselves, are little 
grown compared with the favour accorded to their hybrid progeny, for 
which we were indebted in the first instance to the Belgian, Dutch, and 
French growers. The most important of these in size and brilliance of 
its flower-spikes, as well as in the endless list of variations constantly 
being produced from it, is the G. gandavensis, or Ghent Gladiolus, 
produced about sixty years ago by crossing—it is said—G. cardinalis 
with G. psittacinus. The credit of this production is given to M. 
Bedinghaus, gardener to the Duke of Arenberg, and its introduction to 
the larger world of gardeners was due to the well-known house of Van 
Houtte. G. brenchleyensis is of similar origin, and has also produced 
many varieties. G. Colvillei is another hybrid, the result of the union 
of G. cardinalis and G. tristis; its var. alba, well known as The Bride, 
is very popular for pot-culture and cut flowers. More recently M. 
Lemoine of Nancy produced a hybrid between G. gandavensis and G. 
purpurea-auratus, which is known as G. Lemoinei, and from which a 
race has arisen with more brilliantly coloured flowers, and a purplish 
brown blotch on the lower segments. Yet more recently the same 
hybridiser has produced the race called G. nancieanus by crossing G. 
Saundersit with G. Lemoine; these produce flowers of great size, surpass- 
ing all earlier sorts in this respect. The principal grower and breeder of 
the large-flowered Gandavensis section is Mr. James Kelway of Lang- 
port. 
Principal § 
saepaaarande ight scarlet; July and August. Height, 4 or 5 feet. 
GLADIOLUS BRENCHLEYENSIS (Brenchley’s). Flowers 
