The varieties, generally comprehended as such, of this species of Gladiolus, are extended, in number, beyond any others with which we are, as yet, acquainted, of this extensive genus. Already, we have drawings of 22; and many more, certainly, there are, even in this kingdom; but we shall content ourselves with figuring, in the Bot. Rep. 3 or 4, of the most curious. One of the varieties of this plant, has been in cultivation with us since the year 1757, when it was raised by Mr. Miller from Cape seeds. The one represented in our present figure, was received, from Holland, in the year 1794, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, Hammersmith; it is one of the hardiest, and surest flowering varieties of the species; for there are but few of them which blossom freely. The bulbs should be planted in sandy peat, about October, and taken into the hot-house, or placed on a hot-bed, in January, to encourage a rapid and early growth; by which means, they are more frequently induced to throw out their flower stems the beginning of April, which otherwise, often prove abortive. The roots should not be removed from the pots, till the leaves are somewhat decayed.
This is the Glad. plicatus of Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 53; Thunb. Diff. de Glad, n. 24; Jac. Ic. Rar. 2. t. 237; of the Kew Cat. Vol. I. p. 63; Martyn’s Miller, art. Glad. 5. and of Willdenow’s Spe. Plant. T. 1. p. 220; yet, we cannot refrain from joining in opinion with the late Mr. Curtis that it approaches as near Ixia, as Gladiolus; for the Ixia rubro-cyanea of the Bot. Mag. is but a variety of this species. But we cannot so readily baboonify our senses, with trifling changes, as to think, with a modern reforming author, that a new genus was necessary, in this instance, to rectify this part of the Species Plantarum, of the incompetent! Linnæus.[Pg 502]
PLATE CCLXIX.
GERANIUM LACINIATUM.
Var. bicolor.
Ragged-leaved Geranium.
Two coloured-flower Var.
CLASS XVI. ORDER IV.
MONADELPHIA DECANDRIA. Threads united. Ten Chives.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.