PLATE 4.--Figs. 1 and 2, anthers back and side view; Fig. 3, apex of the perianth, showing the tufts of hairs.
GERBERA, _Gronov._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. ii. p. 497.
=Gerbera Jamesoni=, _Bolus_; _Gard. Chron._, 1889, vol. 5, p. 772. fig. 122; _Bot. Mag._ t. 7087.
This plant, the “Barberton Daisy,” has attracted much attention in recent years as an addition to the herbaceous garden.
It was first discovered in the Transvaal by the collector Rehmann about 1878, and later by the Hon. R. Jameson on the mountains round Barberton. In 1889 it flowered at Kew Gardens and was illustrated in the _Gardener’s Chronicle_ for that year. Shortly afterwards a coloured plate and description appeared in the _Botanical Magazine_ (t. 7087). The specific name was proposed by the late Dr. Bolus, who himself collected the species at Barberton.
A mass of these plants in full bloom is very striking, the scarlet rays standing out in strong contrast to the green leaves.
The specimen from which the present illustration was made flowered at the Botanical Laboratories, Pretoria.
DESCRIPTION:--_Rootstock_ perennial. _Leaves_ basal, numerous, 22-45 cm. long, 5-10 cm. broad, somewhat oblong in general outline, deeply lobed, with the terminal lobe broadly ovate, acute, pubescent on both surfaces, especially on the veins beneath; petiole 25-40 cm. long, terete, pilose, tinged with red at the base. _Peduncle_ 25-40 cm. long, terete, pilose, bearing a solitary capitulum. _Capitulum_ 8-10 cm. in diameter when fully expanded. _Involucral-bracts_ about 3-seriate, 1-1·5 cm. long, lanceolate, acuminate, acute, woolly. _Receptacle_ flat, naked. _Ray-florets_ female, scarlet to spectrum-red (R.C.S.); lower limb represented by 2 linear strongly reflexed lobes. _Ovary_ glandular-pubescent. _Disc-florets_ hermaphrodite. _Corolla_ bilabiate; tube 7 mm. long, cylindrical, glabrous; anterior limb of 2 linear recurved lobes; posterior limb 3-toothed, spreading. _Ovary_ 6 mm. long, cylindrical, glandular-pubescent; _stigma_ bifid.
PLATE 5.--Fig. 1, ray-floret; Fig. 2, disc-floret; Fig. 3, apex of style, showing the two stigmas.
GLADIOLUS PSITACCINUS, H.K., VAR. COOPERI, B. K. R.]
GLADIOLUS, _Linn._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 709.