This most beautiful species of Gladiolus, is but of very recent date in England; in the year 1795 it was seen first to blow here, in the collection of J. Ord, Esq. Purser’s-cross, Fulham; but has since, repeatedly, at the nursery, Hammersmith, from whence this figure was taken. Professor Jacquin has figured this plant, in his last Fasciculus; but, undoubtedly, from a dried specimen, as his figure gives no idea of the brilliancy of this delightful plant. The fragrance of its flowers, added to the singularity and beauty of its leaves, must place it in the foremost rank of its congeners. To preserve the bulb of this delicate Gladiolus, as soon as the stem begins to decay, it should be taken from the pot, and kept dry till October; when it should be replanted, and treated as other Cape bulbs. It increases by offsets, and flowers about the month of May, or June. [Illustration] PLATE XII. GERANIUM GRANDIFLORUM. _Largest flowered Crane’s-bill._ CLASS XVI. ORDER II. _MONODELPHIA DECANDRIA._ Threads united. Ten Chives. GENERIC CHARACTER. CALYX. Perianthium pentaphyllum: foliolis ovatis, acutis, concavis, persistentibus. COROLLA. Petala quinque, obcordata, seu ovata, patentia, magna. STAMINA. Filamenta decem, subulata, corolla breviora. Antheræ oblongæ, versatiles. PISTILLUM. Germen quinquangulare, rostratum. Stylus subulatus, staminibus longior, persistens. Stigmata quinque, reflexa. PERICARPIUM nullum. Fructus pentacoccus, rostratus. SEMINA solitaria, reniformia, sæpe arillata; Arista longissima, demum spirali. EMPALEMENT. Cup five leaves: leaves egg-shaped, sharp pointed, concave, and permanent. BLOSSOM. Five petals, inversely heart-shaped, or egg shaped, spreading, and large. CHIVES. Ten threads, awl-shaped and shorter than the blossom. Tips oblong, easily turned round. POINTAL. Seed-bud five-angled, and beaked. Shaft awl-shaped, longer than the chives and remaining. Five reflexed summits. SEED-VESSEL none. Fruit five dry berries, beaked. SEEDS, solitary, kidney-shaped, often furnished with a dry husky coat, and a very long awn, which become spiral. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. Geranium, calycibus monophyllis, foliis quinque-lobis, glabris, dentatis; floribus amplissimis. sub-albidis. Geranium, empalements of one leaf; leaves five-lobed, smooth, and toothed; the flowers very large, nearly white. REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 1. The Empalement cut open, to shew its tubular structure. 2. The Chives, and Pointal, as placed in the flower, (natural size.) 3. The Shaft, Summits, and Seed-bud, (magnified.)