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PLATE LXVI.
GLADIOLUS POLYSTACHIUS.
Branching Gladiolus.
C L A S S III. ORDER L
TRIJNDRIA MONOGYNIA. Three Chives. One Pointal.
E S S E N T I A L GENERIC CHARACTEK.
COROLLA 6-pardta, ringens
STAMINA adfcendentia.
BLOSSOM of fix divifions, and gaping.
CHIVES afcending.
See Plate XI . GLADIOLUS KOSEUS.
S P E C I F I C CHARACTER.
Gladiolus foliis falcatis; caule polyftachio; corollis
fub-regularibus, carneis.
Gladiolus with cymitar-ihaped leaves; ftem many
branches; bloflbms nearly regular, and flefli
colour.
R E F E R E N C E TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. A Bloffom cut open, with the Chives attached.
3. The Pointal and Seed-bud, one fummit magnified.
THIS fpecies of Gladiolus has been long known in herbariums, as it is very common about Table
mountain, at the Cape of Good Hope; J a c q u i n , Thunberg, Gmelin, Welldenow, &c. have it under the
tribe of Ixia, with the fpecific names of Scillaris, Fabricii, &c. but notwithftanding, we have no
helitation in'placing it under its true genus Gladiolus. The upright charaaer of the chives, their
infertion into the tube of the bloffom, and not at the mouth, the difference in the iliape of the petals,
the fituation of the fummits behind the chives, &:c. leave no room for doubt where its flation fliould
be. Although plentiful at the Cape, it has not been long an inhabitant of this clime; having flowered
for the firft time in the year 179/, at Bulftrode, the feat of his Grace the Duke of Poitland. What
contributes much to the value of this plant is, that it continues in flower at leaft two months, from
the beginning of June till the end of July; propagates itfelf abundantly by the roots, which are not
fubjeft to rot, though not removed from the pots in which they have flowered, Thrives in peat earth.
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