History of Celosia Gilbertia 
After eighteen years of patience and untiring effort on the 
part of Mrs. J. D. Gilbert of Galesburg, Illinois, she has been able 
to obtain this hybrid species of Celosia Gilbertia which is decidediy 
unusual as to variety in color and size. 
Mrs. Gilbert became interested in coxcombs in 1926 when she 
assisted with a local flower show. After the show was over there 
remained one old-fashioned and large coxcomb of brilliant color 
which had been entered by a friend, Miss Nora Cox. Mrs. Gilbert 
secured permission to take this flower home and the next year she 
planted the seed. For the following two years she got nothing but 
the usual red coxcombs. The third year it threw a hght cream color, 
the fourth she had one small pink flower, and after that different 
colors become more prominent—one year a yellow flower, another 
year an orange one. By carefully selecting her seed and crossing the 
pollen she has been able to obtain the brilliant colors as seen in 
the Gilbertia species. 
Celosia grown by Mrs. Gilbert first gained prominence at the 
Century of Progress during 1933, and in 1934 she was requested to 
send more entries and in turn received letters complimenting her 
on the color and form from flower growers and botanists all over 
the world. In 1936 a floral committee at the International Horticul- 
tural [exposition in Chicago named the variety of Celosia raised by 
Mrs. Gilbert as the Gilbertia and that name was trade marked in 
1942. As early as 1937 specimens were sent to the Bailey Hortorium 
in connection with the New York State College of Agriculture, Cor- 
nell University, Ithaca, New York, and herbarium material was 
made from these specimens and a record of the plant was filed. 
Other Varieties 
Gilbert's Maple Bgmke is not the only variety which is being 
developed at the present time. As soon as the seed stock is built up, 
other colors will be available 

a red and gold color combination, the 
silver and gold blend, as well as others. 
