Part 100

PLATE CXXII.

GLADIOLUS GALEATUS.

Helmet-flowered Gladiolus.

CLASS III. ORDER I.

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

COROLLA sexpartita, ringens.

STAMINA adscendentia.

BLOSSOM six divisions, gaping.

CHIVES ascending.

See GLADIOLUS ALATUS, Vol. I. Pl. VIII.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Gladiolus foliis sub-ovatis, costatis, mucronatis; spathis carianatis, tubo longioribus; lacinia summa concava, sub-erecta.

Gladiolus with leaves nearly egg-shaped, ribbed, and pointed at the ends; sheaths keeled, and longer than the tube of the blossom; the upper segment concave, and almost upright.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The two sheaths of the Empalement. 2. The Chives, with part of the tube of the Blossom, to which they are attached. 3. The Pointal and seed-bud.

We are certainly led to think with Thunberg, that this plant is not a species, but a very singular and beautiful variety, of G. alatus, of which we have seen above six or seven. Nevertheless, upon the authority of Prof. Jacquin, who in his Icones 2. tab. 258, has figured it under this name specifically; and as it has been continued as such, by the accurately discriminating and indefatigable Willdenow; (to whose labours, all lovers of the science are so much indebted, for his invaluable, and copious new Edition of the Species plantarum,) we have thought it but right to acquiesce, without alteration in the name adopted by them. For the management of this plant we must refer our readers to the G. alatus, Pl. VIII. Vol. I. of this work.

The Helmet-flowered Gladiolus was not seen in England, till the spring of the year 1800; when the roots were received at Clapham, from the Cape of Good Hope, sent by the Collector there, for the Hibbertian collection, amongst an infinite number of others; many having flowered this year, of which we have drawings, by permission of the proprietor, and are destined to enrich the Bot. Rep. being perfectly new to this country. The figure of this plant was taken in August, but the regular season of its flowering, must be much earlier (if planted with the other Cape bulbs in October,) that is to say, about the month of May or June.

PLATE CXXIII.

THUNBERGIA FRAGRANS.

Twining Thunbergia.

CLASS XIV. ORDER II.

DIDYNAMIA ANGIOSPERMIA. Two Chives longer. Seeds covered.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

CALYX. Perianthium duplex; exterius, diphyllum, foliolis ovatis, concavis, longitudine fere tubi; interius, monophyllum, multipartitum, laciniis circiter duodecim, subulatis, perianthio exteriori triplo brevioribus.

COROLLA monopetala; tubus sensim ampliatus; limbus quinquefidus; laciniis æqualibus, ovatis, obtusissimis, tubo triplo brevioribus.

STAMINA. Filamenta quatuor, tubo supra basin inserta, inæqualia; duobus inferioribus brevioribus; duobus superioribus tubo breviora. Antheræ ovatæ, adnatæ.

PISTILLUM. Germen superum. Stylus filiformis, tubo paullo brevior, erectus. Stigma bilobum.