DESCRIPTION:--_Corm_ ellipsoid, 3 cm. long, 1·5 cm. in diameter, covered with fine reticulated sheaths. _Leaves_ 7 in a basal distichous rosette, 8 to 11 cm. long, 0·7 to 1·4 cm. broad, linear-oblong, very acute, with 1 more or less evident mid-rib, but many-veined when viewed in transmitted light. _Peduncle_ about 12 cm. long, flexuose, bearing about 6 distant flowers. _Outer spathe-valves_ 1 cm. long, deeply 3-partite, inner 2-partite. _Perianth_ distinctly 2-lipped; tube 1·5 cm. long, widening upwards; posterior segment 2·5 cm. long, erect, clawed, with an ovate obtuse limb; side-segments 1·7 cm. long, 6 mm. broad, more or less oblong, obtuse, spreading-reflexed; 3 anterior segments more or less horizontal and forming a distinct lip. _Style_ as long as the stamens, divided into 3 lobes dilated at the apex. (National Herb. Pretoria, No. 2860.) PLATE 162.--Fig. 1, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 2, spathe-valve; Fig. 3, stamen; Fig. 4, style showing stigmas; Fig. 5, fruit. F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 163.] PLATE 163. GLADIOLUS TRICHOSTACHYS. _Transvaal._ IRIDACEAE. Tribe IXIEAE. GLADIOLUS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 709. * * * * * =Gladiolus trichostachys=, _Baker in Bull._ _Herb. Boiss._ ser. II. vol. iv. p. 1006. * * * * * This charming little _Gladiolus_ was first found by Conrath at Irene, near Pretoria, and was again collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., in the same locality. It was described by Baker, with several other Transvaal species, in 1904, but is here figured for the first time. The plant produces a single erect flowering stem with clasping leaves scarcely produced above. The species belongs to the Section _Hebea_, which we have illustrated on Plates 63 and 165 (_G. alatus_, _G. orchidiflorus_), and is closely related to _G. permeabilis_, a species common in the Cape Province, but which also extends into Bechuanaland. It is, however, easily distinguished from this species by the non-produced leaves and hairy stems. Our illustration was made from the specimens collected by Dr. I. B. Pole Evans, C.M.G., at Irene. DESCRIPTION:--_Bulb_ 2 cm. in diameter, globose, covered with brown fibres. _Stem_ pilose on the lower half. _Leaves_ clasping the stem, sheath pilose, hardly produced. _Inflorescence_ 13 cm. long, 7-to 10-flowered. _Outer spathe-valves_ 1·5 cm. long, somewhat membranous above, entire, bifid or trifid; inner spathe-valves similar to the outer, bifid. _Stamens_ shorter than the style; anthers somewhat sagittate at the base. _Style-branches_ cuneate, fimbriate on the edges. PLATE 163.--Fig. 1, plant much reduced; Fig. 2, median longitudinal section of flower; Fig. 3, outer spathe-valve; Fig. 4, inner spathe-valve; Fig. 5, anther; Fig. 6, portion of style with style branches. F.P.S.A., 1925. [Illustration: 164.] PLATE 164. ALOE CHABAUDII.