98 
NOVITATES AFRICANAE 
yellow leaves surrounding the inflorescence are edged with crimson 
making the male heads very conspicuous. After the flowers have 
faded the yellow leaves turn green and function as foliage leaves. 
Described from a living specimen presented by Miss I. Arbuthnot. 
By permission of the Trustees of the South African Museum. 
Gladiolus Davisoniae, Bob f. (§ Eugladiolus) [Irideae-Ixieae\, foliis ensi- 
formibus, minute sparseque pubescentibus, pcrianthio roseo colorato, 
segmentis tantum supra medium patentibus, et 3 inferioribus in genere 
angustis distinguitur. 
Cormus subrotundus, 2 cm. longus et diam., tunicis tenue striatis ; 
caulis erectus, teres, glaber, 13 cm. longus (sine spica), foliorum ves- 
tigiis basi ad 8 cm. longis praeditus ; folia basalia 5, lineari-lanceolata, 
acuminata, erecta, substricta, plana, rigida, nervis minute pubescenti- 
bus, marginibus incrassatis, medio nervo subprominente, 25 — 32 cm. 
longa, 1 — 1-5 cm. lata; folia caulina 0 — 3; spica aequilateralis vel 
secunda, simplex, axi substricto vel flexuoso, tereti, glabro, 18 — 27 cm. 
longa, 7 — 11 fl., floribus suberectis ; spathae valvae exteriores lineares 
vel lanceolatae, acuminatae, interioribus longiores, infimis 4-7 — 9-5 cm. 
longis, circa 1 cm. latis, illis prope medium 4-2 — 5-7 cm. longis, circa 
1 cm. latis ; perianthii tubus supra infundibuliformis, parum curvatus, 
2-8 — 3 cm. longus ; segmentis minute apiculatis, roseis, 3 inferioribus 
media saturiore rosea linea ad apicem attenuatis notatis, 3 superioribus 
elliptico-oblongis, subaequalibus, acutis vel subobtusis, 2-8 — 3-1 cm. 
longis, 1 — 1-4 cm. latis, 3 inferioribus lanceolato-spathulatis acutis, 
lateralibus 2-5 — 3-1 cm. longis, 0-6 — 0-75 cm. latis, medio parum 
longiore latioreque ; stamina dimidium segmentorum attingentia, 
antheris linearibus, 0-9 — 1-1 cm. longis; stylus (evolutus) parum 
magis quarn 2/3 segmentorum attingens. 
Cape Province : Karroo Region ; Somerset East Div., near Somerset 
East, on mountain, F. A. de Courcy. Flowered in National Botanic 
Gardens, March 1915, No. ^ (Bolus Herb. No. 14762). Upper 
Region; Bedford Div., Dagga Boer, near Witmoss, J. Davison. 
Flowered in National Botanic Gardens, March, 1915, No. (Bolus 
Herb. No. 14763). 
Distinguished by the ensiform leaves which are minutely and 
sparingly pubescent, by the pink perianth, by the segments which 
spread only above the middle, and by the narrowness (for the genus) 
of the 3 lower segments. 
Described from living specimens which flowered in the National 
Botanic Gardens. Not closely allied to any species known to me. 
In general aspect it seems nearest to G. Macowani, Baker which I only 
know in the dried state, but the latter has been placed by Baker in 
