GLADIOLUS ITALICUS

Family and Genus:- See- IRIDACEAE

Common Names:- Field gladiolus

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Gladiolus (Gr) Small sword.

Italicus (L) Italian, from Italy.

General description:- Medium to tall cormous perennial.

Stems:-

1) 50-100 cm.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, 3 to 5, alternate, 30-65 cm x 5-17 mm across, simple, narrow, linear to

subulate, flat, ribbed, with irregular veins. joined together in a fan.

2) Basal sheaths, pale to dark red, often white-spotted.

Flowers:-

1) Pinkish-purple to reddish, 40-30 mm long, 6-15 in a more or less two-sided

spike.

2) Tepals, lower, with 3 pinkish spear-shaped marks outlined with purple.

3) Anthers, longer than the filaments.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, cylindrical, torulose when mature.

2) Seeds, globose to pyriform, not winged.

Key features:-

1) Anthers, longer than the filaments (or aborted).

2) Seeds, not winged.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Cultivated fields and olive groves, occasionally in open dry shrubby

vegetation, open coniferous woodland and other semi-natural habitats. 0-1200 m.

Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the Mediterranean. Widespread

and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Late Mar to early June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton