_Cor._ tubulosa, clavata, curva, 6-fida, laciniae ovato-oblongae. _Filamenta_ tubo inserta, apice conniventia. _Linn. Fil._ _Specific Character and Synonyms._ CYRTANTHUS _angustifolius_ foliis obtuse carinatis rectis, floribus cernuis, _Linn. Fil. Ait. Kew. v. i. p. 414._ CRINUM _angustifolium_ foliis linearibus obtusis, corollis cylindricis: laciniis alternis interglandulosis. _Linn. Suppl. 195._ CYRTANTHUS is a genus which takes its name from the curvature of its flower, was established by the younger LINNAEUS, and adopted by Mr. AITON in the _Hortus Kewensis_. The present species is a native of the Cape, and was added to the royal collection at Kew, by Mr. MASSON, in the year 1774. The plant from whence our drawing was made flowered the preceding May with Mr. WHITLEY, Nurseryman, Old Brompton, who received it from Holland, and who has been so fortunate as to obtain young 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._