Gladiolus alatus

• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

Family Iridaceae

Herbs perennial (or shrubs or annuals ), with rhizomes, bulbs, or corms. Leaves alternate, often 2-ranked, often oriented edgewise to aerial stem, usually sword-shaped to linear , parallel veined, base sheathing . Inflorescence sometimes a spike or reduced to a solitary flower, more often of monochasial , umbellate cymes, each enclosed in 2 opposed bracts (spathes ) and termed a rhipidium, which may be solitary and terminal or numerous and variously arranged in racemes or panicles; bracts 1 to several. Flowers bisexual , showy, usually actinomorphic (often zygomorphic elsewhere) . Perianth segments 6, in 2 whorls, inner and outer ones equal or differing in size and/or color; tube filiform or trumpet-shaped. Stamens (2 or) 3; anthers extrorse . Ovary inferior (or superior), 3-loculed; ovules few to many; placentation axile . Style with filiform, slender, or petaloid branches. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds with or without aril and wings .

Between 70 and 80 genera and ca. 1800 species: nearly worldwide, especially S Africa, Asia, and Europe; three genera and 61 species (21 endemic, one introduced ) in China.[1]

Genus Gladiolus

Herbs, perennial , from corms. Stems simple or branched. Leaves 1-9; blade lanceolate to linear , plane or margins and/or midribs variously raised and thickened (then H- or X-shaped in cross section ), or evidently terete , midribs and margins much thickened, grooved ; grooves 4, narrow, longitudinal . Inflorescences spicate , partly to fully secund or with flowers weakly distichous; bracts green, sometimes flushed grayish purple, unequal, outer usually exceeding inner, acute or inner forked or notched apically. Flowers somewhat fragrant, zygomorphic [actinomorphic ]; tepals basally connate into tube , variously colored , usually with contrasting markings comprising nectar guide on outer tepals, usually unequal, dorsal tepal largest, arched to hooded over stamens, outer 3 tepals narrower; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped to cylindric ; stamens usually unilateral ; anthers usually parallel; style usually arching over stamens, dividing into 3 filiform branches, these distally expanded. Capsules usually slightly inflated , oblong to ellipsoid or globose [rarely nearly cylindric], softly cartilaginous . Seeds usually many, broadly winged ; rarely few, wingless, globose or angular; seed coat light to dark brown. x = 15.

Species ca. 260: introduced ; Africa, Madagascar, Eurasia .

Hybrid strains of Gladiolus are widely cultivated, and some wild species are grown outdoors in areas with mild winters. The common, large-flowered hybrids are the product of crossing between four or five species, followed by selection. Named variously G. gandavensis L. van Houtte, G. lemoinei Baker, and G. hortulanus L. H. Bailey, these plants are occasionally found in and near gardens and cemeteries and are easily recognized by their large, brightly colored flowers with the inner tepals 60-70 mm long and the outer tepals about 50 mm long. They reproduce mainly vegetatively and persist for some years where winters are mild; they show no evidence of spreading into native vegetation.[2]

Physical Description

Biology

Growth

Culture: Space 6-9" apart.

Soil: Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 7.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun .

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11. (map)

Taxonomy

Notes

Publishing author : L. Publication : Plantae Rariores Africanae 1760 (20 Dec. 1760)

Similar Species

Members of the genus Gladiolus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 153 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

G. alatus (Gladiolus) · G. callianthus (Abyssinian Gladiolus) · G. cardinalis (Waterfall Gladiolus) · G. carneus (Bergpypie) · G. caryophyllaceus (Pink Trumpet Flower) · G. colvillei (Colville's Gladiolus) · G. communis (Cornflag) · G. communis byzantinus (Cornflag) · G. communis communis (Cornflag) · G. communis subsp. byzantinus (Cornflag) · G. dalenii (African Parrot Gladiola) · G. dalenii 'Bolivian Peach' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. dalenii 'Carolina Primrose' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. equitans (Gladiolus) · G. flanaganii (Gladiolus) · G. gandavensis (Gladiolus) · G. gracilis (Gladiolus) · G. illyricus (Wild Gladiolus) · G. italicus (Cornfield Gladiolus) · G. murielae (Acidanthera) · G. nanus (Hardy Gladiolus) · G. oppositiflorus (Pink Wildflower Gladiolus) · G. orchidiflorus (Gladiolus) · G. papilio (Autumn Gladiolus) · G. papilio 'Aureatus' (Goldblotch Gladiolus) · G. papilio 'Purpureoauratus Group' (Autumn Gladiolus) · G. papilio 'Ruby' (Autumn Gladiolus) · G. saundersii (Saunders Gladiolus) · G. tristis (Evening Flower Gladiolus) · G. tubergenii 'Charming Beauty' (Miniature Gladiolus) · G. tubergenii 'Charm' (Miniature Gladiolus) · G. undulatus (Waved-Flowered Corn-Flag) · G. x colvillei (Hardy Gladiolus) · G. x colvillei 'Albus' (Hardy Gladiolus) · G. x gandavensis (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus (Hybrid Gladiolus Gladiolus X Hortulanus) · G. x hortulanus 'Africa' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Alfalfa' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Aphrodite' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Apricot Lustre' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus'Atom' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Bibi' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Blackpool' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Black Jack' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Blues' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Blue Beauty' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Blue Isle' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Blue Lagoon' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Blue Ribbon' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Blue Sky' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Blue Tropic' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Bono's Memory' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Charmer' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Cherry Splash' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Comet' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Coral Lace' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Coral Seas' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Cote D'azure' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Dauntless' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus'Episode' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Espresso' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Fidelio' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Finishing Touch' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Flevo Amico' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Flevo Eyes' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Flevo Jive' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Flevo Junior' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Flevo Kosmic' (Gladiolus) · GLadiolus x hortulanus 'Flevo Party' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Friendship' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Frosty White' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Goldfield' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Grand Prix' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus'Green Star' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Green Woodpecker' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Homecoming' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Hypnose' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Iceberg' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Ice Cream' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Impressive' (Winter Hardy Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Jacksonville Gold' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Jester' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Jester Gold' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Jubilee' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Junior Flevo' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'King's Gold' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus'Laguna' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus'Land O'lakes' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Las Vegas' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Lowland Queen' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Madame De Paris' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Madonna' (Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Mars' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Mary Housley' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'May Bride' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Melodie' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Mezzo Forte' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus'Mi Mi' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus'Mon Amor' (Hybrid Gladiolus) · G. x hortulanus 'Mon Amour' (Gladiolus)

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• 1997 IUCN red list of threatened plants Cambridge: IUCN, World Conservation Union, 1998 url p. 676.
• A garden of South African flowers, K. C. Stanford. Cape Town: M. Miller, [19-?] url p. 2, p. 56.
• An encyclopaedia of gardening; comprising the theory and practice of horticulture, floriculture, arboriculture, and landscape-gardening, including all the latest improvements; a general history of gardening in all countries; and a By J.C. Loudon. London, Printed for Longman, Ross, Orme, Brown, and Green, 1828. url p. 920.
• Bulbs and tuberous-rooted plants: their history, description, methods of propagation and complete directions for their successful culture in the garden, dwelling and greenhouse / by C.L. Allen. New York: O. Judd, 1919. url p. 105.
• Bulbs and tuberous-rooted plants; their history, description, methods of propagation and complete directions for their successful culture in the garden, dwelling and greenhouse, by C.L. Allen. New York: Orange Judd Co., 1893. url p. 105.
• Bulbs: a treatise on hardy and tender bulbs and tubers. By Edward Sprague Rand, jr. Boston, J. E. Tilton, 1866. url p. 183, p. 183.
• Bulbs; a treatise on hardy and tender bulbs and tubers. By Edward Sprague Rand, jr.. .. Boston, Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1884. url p. 183.
• Bulletin / U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. Washington: G.P.O., 1901-1913. url p. 18.
• Bulletin. Bureau of Plant Industry. U. S. Department of Agriculture. 1901-13. WashingtonGovt. Print. Off. url p. 18.
• Curtis's botanical magazine. 16 1801 London; New York [etc.]: Academic Press [etc.] url , , , p. 39, p. 4, p. 59, p. 83.
• Dictionary of the common names of plants with list of foreign plants cultivated in the open / by Rudolf Marloth. Cape Town: Specialty Press of South Africa, 1917. url p. 141, p. 45, p. 49.
• Garden and forest; a journal of horticulture, landscape art and forestry. New York: The Garden and forest publishing co., 1888-97. url p. 364.
• Gladiolus studies / Alvin C. Beal [and A. C. Hottes] Ithaca, N.Y.New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University, 1916. url p. 105, p. 117, p. 127, p. 154, p. 155, p. 168, p. 171, p. 173, p. 251, p. 270, p. 97.
• Global Biodiversity: status of the Earth's living resources WCMC url p. 224.
• Hand-list of tender momocotyledons, excluding Orchideae, cultivated in the Royal Gardens, Kew. London, Printed for H. M. S. O., by Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1897. url p. 85.
• Hand-list of tender monocotyledons, excluding Orchideae, cultivated in the Royal Gardens, Kew. 1897. LondonPrinted for H.M. Stationery Off. by Eyre and Spottiswoode1897 url p. 85.
• Hortus suburbanus Calcuttensis; A catalogue of the plants which have been cultivated in the Hon. East India Company's botanical garden, Calcutta, and in the Serampore botanical garden. By the late J. O. Voigt, printed under the superintendence of W. Griffith. Calcutta, Bishop's College Press, 1845. url p. 607.
• Inventory of seeds and plants imported / U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. Washington, D.C.: G.P.O., 1914-1924. url p. 48, p. 56, p. 62, p. 96.
• Journal of botany, British and foreign. London: Robert Hardwicke, 1863-1942. url p. 279.
• Journal of the Horticultural Society of New York. New York City: The Society, 1906-1924. url p. 524.
• Our South African flora = Ons Suid-Afrikaanse plantegroei / Cape Town, Cape Times, 19 url .
• Plants and their ways in South Africa. London, Longmans, Green, 1915. url p. 269, p. 28, p. 28.
• Practical landscape gardening, with reference to the improvement of rural residences, giving the general principles of art; with full directions for planting shade trees, shrubbery and flowers, and laying out grounds. Cincinnati, Moore, Wilstach, Keys & co., 1855. url p. 228.
• Practical landscape gardening: with reference to the improvement of rural residences, giving the general principles of the art: with full directions for planting shade trees, shrubbery and flowers, and laying out grounds / by G.M. Kern. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach, Keys & Co., No. 25 West Fourth Street, 1855. url p. 228.
• Seeds and plants imported / U.S. Department of Agriculture. Washington, D.C.: G.P.O., 1903-1913. url p. 18.
• The American flora: or history of plants and wild flowers: containing their scientific and general description, natural history, chemical and medical properties, mode of culture, propagation, &c., designed as a book of by A. B. Strong. 1 1855 New York: Hull & Spencer, 1855. url p. 48.
• The Florists' exchange: a weekly medium of interchange for florists, nurserymen, seedsmen and the trade in general. New York, N.Y.: [A.T. De la Mare Ptg. and Pub. Co., url p. 684.
• The Garden: an illustrated weekly journal of gardening in all its branches. London: [s.n., url p. 120, p. 416.
• The Gardeners' chronicle: a weekly illustrated journal of horticulture and allied subjects. London: [Gardeners Chronicle], 1874-1955. url p. 329, p. 61.
• The Modern gladiolus grower. Calcium, N.Y.: Madison Cooper, c1914-c1917. url p. 58, p. 88.
• The botanist's repository, for new, and rare plants: containing coloured figures of such plants, as have not hitherto appeared in any similar publication, with all their essential characters, botanically arranged, after the sexual system of the celebrat London: Printed by T. Bensley, and published by the author. ..: 1797-[1815] url , , .
• The botanist's repository: for new, and rare plants: containing coloured figures of such plants, as have not hitherto appeared in any similar publication: with all their essential characters, botanically arranged, after the sexual system of the celebrated Linnaeus: in English and Latin: To each description is added, a short history of the plant, as to its time of flowering, culture, native place of growth, when introduced, and by whom /The whole executed by Henry Andrews. 5 1797-1811 London: The author, 1797-[1811?] url .
• The bulb book; or, Bulbous and tuberous plants for the open air, stove, and greenhouse, containing particulars as to descriptions, culture, propagation, etc.. .. by John Weathers. London, J. Murray, 1911. url p. 244.
• The florist cultivator, or, Plain directions for the management of the principal florist flowers, shrubs, etc. etc.: adapted to the flower-garden, shrubbery, and greenhouse: with select lists of the finest roses, geraniums, carnations, pinks, auriculas, polyanthuses, tulips, dahlias, heartsease, &c &c.. .. / by Thomas Willats. London: J. Ridgeway, 1836. url p. 32.
• The florist's guide; containing practical directions for the cultivation of annual, biennial, and perennial flowering plants, of different classes, herbaceous and shrubby, bulbous, fibrous, and tuberous-rooted; including By T. Bridgeman. New York: Printed by A. Hanford, 1847. url p. 79.
• The young gardener's assistant: containing a catalogue of garden & flower seeds, with practical directions under each head for the cultivation of culinary vegetables and flowers; also directions for cultivating fruit trees, the gra by T. Bridgeman. New York: [s.n.], 1840 url p. 198.
• The young gardener's assistant; containing a catalogue of garden & flower seeds, with practical directions under each head, for the cultivation of culinary vegetables and flowers, also directions for cultivating fruit trees, the gra New York, For sale by T. Bridgeman [etc.]1840. url p. 198.
• Zhao Yu-tang. 1985. Iridaceae. In: Pei Chien & Ting Chih-tsun, eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 16(1): 120--198.
• Goldblatt, P. and J. C. Manning. 1998. Gladiolus in Southern Africa. Cape Town.
• Goldblatt, P. 1996. Gladiolus in Tropical Africa. Portland.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 5837090
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Kew-328172
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 15524341
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:437241-1
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 437240-1
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 741922

Footnotes

1. Yu-tang Zhao, Henry J. Noltie & Brian F. Mathew "Iridaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 297. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
2. Peter Goldblatt "Gladiolus". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 349, 407, 408. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.