GLADIOLUS

Gladiolus Tourn. ex L., Sp. Pl. 1: 36. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5: 23. 1754; Ali & Mathew, Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org Pakistan V. 202; Goldblatt, Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org 26: 407.

Perennial herb with corms; corms symmetrical, enclosed by several layers of brownish, fibrous tunics. Stem simple or branched. Cauline leaves 2-many, linear-lanceolate to ensiform, vaginate, equitant, plane, margins and/ or midribs variously raised and thickened; lowest leaf reduced to cataphyll. Inflorescence spicate, partly to fully secund or with flowers weakly distichous; each flower subtended by 2-valved spathe. Flowers somewhat fragrant, zygomorphic, bisexual. Perianth with 6 tepals, gamophyllous, with tepals basally connate into a tube, perianth tube obliquely infundibuliform to cylindric, tepals usually unequal: dorsal tepal largest, arched to hooked over stamens, outer 3 tepals narrower. Stamens 3, usually unilateral; filaments adnate to hypanthial tube; anthers included. Ovary 3-locular, many ovules per loculus; style usually arching over stamens, dividing into 3 filiform branches distally expanded. Capsule globose, oblong to ellipsoid, softly cartilaginous, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds usually many, broadly winged, seed coat light to dark brown.

291 species

Gladiolus x gandavensis

Gladiolus x gandavensis Van Houtte, Nursery Cat. (Lois van Houtte) 6:1. 1841

(This is unresolved name, neither accepted, nor synonym). This is an artificial hybrid between G. dalenii x G. oppositiflorus

Perennial herb, with corms; corms symmetrical enclosed by many layers of tunic. Stem simple, 30-40 cm long; cauline leaves up to 10, distichous, giving fan-shaped appearance, linear-lanceolate to ensiform, equitant, margin plane. Inflorescence 30-50 cm long spike with many flowers; flowers secund, bisexual, zygomorphic, variously coloured, white, yellow, orange, red, ca. 4 cm across; each flower subtended by 2 leathery green bracts. Perianth 6, in 2 whorls of 3 each, unequal, connate at base to form slender perianth tube, perianth funnelform, dorsal (topmost) tepal large, hood-like, arching over stamens; outer 3 tepals narrower. Stamens 3, usually unilateral; filaments adnate to hypanthium tube; anthers included, oblong, dorsifixed. Ovary inferior, 3-locular, with many ovules in each loculus; style arching over stamens, dividing into 3 filiform branches, distally expanded, 2-lobed.

Capsule not observed.

Flowering and Fruiting: March to May
Common Names: Gladiolus