Volume 3 — PLATE CLXVI. GLADIOLUS ABREVIATUS. Shortened-petalled 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 roseus, Pl. XI. Vol. I.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Gladiolus foliis linearibus, cruciatis, scapo longioribus; corolla tubulosa, striata, ima angustata, lacinia summa magna, recta, ovata, reliquæ vero parvæ, abreviatæ.

Gladiolus with linear leaves, cross shaped, longer than the flower-stem; blossom tubular, streaked, and narrowed at the lower part, the upper petal is large, grows straight out, and egg-shaped, the others are small, and appear as if shortened.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

1. The outer sheath of the Empalement.

2. The inner sheath of the Empalement.

3. A Blossom spread open, with the Chives attached.

4. The Seed-bud, Shaft, and Summits.

This most singular Gladiolus was received, amongst a variety of others, in the year 1799, from the Cape of Good Hope, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith; at whose nursery it flowered in March, this year 1801, for the first time. It is a hardy bulb, and propagates freely from the root; grows about two feet high, and, before flowering, has much the appearance of G. tristis.