Plate 116. GLADIOLUS psittacinus. Cape Province, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Natal, Portuguese East Africa.

Iridaceae. Tribe Ixieae. Gladiolus, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 709. Gladiolus psittacinus, Hook. in Bot. Mag. 3032; Fl. Cap. vol. vi. p. 158.

On Plate 6 we figured a variety of this magnificent species of Gladiolus, which differs from our present plant not only in the colouring of the flower, but also in the size of the perianth-segments.

It was figured in the Botanical Magazine (t. 3032) from specimens which flowered at Kew, and was known in cultivation in England at least as early as 1830, and in Holland before that date.

A bed of plants growing at the Division of Botany, Pretoria, made an exceptionally fine display this season (1923), and there can be little doubt that it is the finest native Gladiolus to be found in South Africa.

The plant is quite easily propagated, and forms new corms very readily. It is commonly known as the “Natal Lily.” Our plate was prepared from specimens forwarded by Mr. H. E. Forsyth, the Curator, Municipal Park, Benoni, and were stated to have been collected in Portuguese East Africa.

Description:—Corm 3 cm. in diameter, globose, covered with fibrous tunics. Plant 1 to 1·5 m. high. Leaves 10 to 12 to a plant, equitant, up to 70 cm. long, 2·5 to 3 cm. broad, ensiform, acuminate, acute, with a prominent midrib above and beneath, and with the lateral veins distinct, with a cartilaginous margin which is sometimes very minutely denticulate, glabrous. Spike ·3 to almost 1 m. long, up to 15-flowered. Outer spathe 8 cm. long, 2·1 cm. broad, ovate, acuminate, acute, closely nerved, glabrous; inner spathe 6 cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad, ovate, acute, 2-keeled, glabrous (in the flowering stage spathes are smaller). Perianth-tube 4 cm. long, 1 cm. in diameter above, yellow on the posterior side, red on anterior side. Upper lobe 5·5 cm. long, 3·2 cm. broad, obovate, narrowed to the base, shortly cuspidate; side lobes 4·5 cm. long, 3·5 cm. broad, ovate, obtuse; lower lateral lobes 3 cm. long, 1·5 cm. broad, elliptic, narrowed to the base, acuminate, acute; lowest petal 3·5 cm. long, 1·8 cm. broad, elliptic narrowed to the base, cuspidate at the apex. Anthers 1·6 cm. long, linear, sagittate at the base. Style 7 cm. long, terete, glabrous; lobes 6 cm. long, spatulate, papillose on the margins. Young fruit 4·5 cm. long, 3-angled. Seeds winged. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2711.)

Plate 116.—Fig. 1, plant much reduced; 2, longitudinal section of flower; 3, outer bract; 4, inner bract; 5, anther with part of filament; 6, stigmas with part of style; 7, young fruit; 8, seed.

F.P.S.A., 1923.

S. Gower del.