plants of it from seed.

It flowers in May and June; requires the same treatment as other Cape
bulbs, and may be increased by offsets and seeds.

At the extremity of each alternate segment of the corolla there is a
kind of small glandular hook, deserving of notice.

[Illustration: N.271]

[272]

GLADIOLUS TRISTIS. SQUARE-LEAVED CORN-FLAG.

_Class and Order._

TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 6-partita, ringens. _Stamina_ adscendentia.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

GLADIOLUS _tristis_ foliis lineari-cruciatis, corollis
campanulatis. _Linn. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14._ _Murr. p. 86._ _Ait.
Kew. v. 1. p. 63._

LILIO-GLADIOLUS bifolius et biflorus, foliis quadrangulis. _Trew.
Ehret. t. 39._

GLADIOLUS _tristis_ foliis linearibus sulcatis, caule bifloro, tubo
longissimo, segmentis aequalibus. _Mill. Dict. ed. 6. 4to._

LINNAEUS gave to this species of _Gladiolus_ the name of _tristis_, from
the colour of its flowers, which however possess scarcely sufficient of
the sombre to justify the appellation; still less so if they vary in the
manner represented in TREW'S _Ehret_, where they are painted in gay and
lively colours: in the specimens we have seen, the blossoms have been of
a sulphur colour, shaded in particular parts with very fine pencillings,
especially on the under side: most authors describe the flowering stems
as producing only two flowers, LINNAEUS has observed that they sometimes
produce many, we have seen them do so where the plant has grown in
perfection; in their expansion, which usually takes place in April and
May, they give forth a most agreeable fragrance.

It is a native of the Cape, and other parts of Africa; was cultivated by
Mr. MILLER, and flowered in the Chelsea Garden in the year 1745. _Ait.
Kew._

The leaves which so characteristically distinguish this species are
highly deserving of notice, instances of such rarely occur; as the bulbs
produce numerous offsets, the plant is propagated by them without
difficulty, and requires the same treatment as other Cape bulbs.

[Illustration: No 272]

[Illustration: No 273]

[273]

DIOSMA UNIFLORA. ONE-FLOWERED DIOSMA.

_Class and Order._

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

_Generic Character._

_Cor._ 5-petala. _Nectaria_ 5, supra germen. _Caps._ 3. s. 5.
coalitae. _Sem._ calyptrata.

_Specific Character and Synonyms._

DIOSMA _uniflora_ foliis ovato ob