alone the two were formerly known, for their guide: “a 
spathe with an obtuse tridented outer valve” being made 
the differential mark of the first, and ‘‘ a spathe with a 
spear-pointed entire outer valve” of the latter: marks that 
mutually occur throughout the genus in the spike of the 
same plant, the outer valve being often entire at the bot- 
tom of the spike, while it is indented at the top. For real 
points of distinction between the species we must have re- 
course, first: to the colour of the flower, which is tawny in 
securigera and yellow in flava; secondly: to the irregu- 
larity of the same, which is greater in flava than in the 
other; thirdly: to the breadth and inequality of the seg- 
ments, which are much broader in securigera, and more 
unequal in flava. ‘The two being however now represented 
by good figures, can for the future cause no confusion. 
Drawn in Mr. Colvill’s greenhouse at Chelsea in July 
last. 
The representation of securigera (GLADIOLUS securigero), 
in Curtis's Magazine (No. 383), is characteristic and every 
way worthy of so excellent a botanical draughtsman as 
Mr. Sydenham Edwards, 
