Gladiolus

Zygomorphe flowering of Illyrian gladiolus ( Gladiolus illyricus )

The gladiolus ( Gladiolus, also called sword flower; Latin gladius, " sword " ) are a genus of flowering plants in the family of Iris Family ( Iridaceae ).

  • 5.1 Notes and references

Dissemination

Native are the species of this genus from southern Europe via the Middle East to Africa and Madagascar. The species with the most striking and colorful flowers come from South Africa.

In Central Europe, they serve mainly as an ornamental plant. In Central European area the marsh gladiolus and the meadows gladiolus in Germany occur. The distribution area of ​​marsh gladiolus is located in southern Germany. They are found on the Bavarian Lechtalheiden between Landsberg am Lech and Augsburg; also on the Rotstein (Saxony ) is a significant stock of wild gladiolus to find.

Description

Gladioli are evergreen or deciduous, perennial herbaceous plant that can reach heights of growth of up to 1.50 m. They form tubers as outlasting. In particular, the leaves smell unpleasant. The leaves sit in either undergraduate or rosettes are distributed alternate and distichous on the stem. The simple, long, often sword-shaped leaves are parallel-veined. The leaf margin is smooth.

There shall be terminated, branched or unbranched, eared inflorescences containing bracts. Some flowers smell something. The sessile, hermaphrodite, flowers can be threefold radial symmetry to zygomorph. There are two by three bracts present; they can be in both circuits are identical or different diverse. Besides blue, brown and pure black, the bloom come in all colors. It is only the inner circle with three free, fertile stamens present, because they are relative to the outer bloom cladding. Three carpels are fused into one inferior ovary. The style ends in three scars. Pollination is in many ways: entomophily, Ornithophilie or anemophily. The dreifächerige fruit capsule contains 20 to 100 seeds. The light to dark brown seeds are usually winged.

Use

The flowers of some species can be eaten raw or cooked. The underground parts of plants of some species are eaten cooked.

Use as an ornamental plant

Only a few gladioli are north of Southern Europe in culture, crucial is their lack of hardiness. As ornamental plants, especially as cut flowers, especially hybrids from the group of garden gladiolus ( Gladiolus × hortulanus ) are cultivated, which are often very big. This gladioli go back on numerous South African parent species. The flowers of butterfly or butterfly gladioli, however, are always small, multi-colored and have a wavy edge.

System

There are about 250 to 260 Gladiolus species ( selection):

  • Gladiolus alatus L., Origin: South Africa
  • . Gladiolus atroviolaceus Boiss, Origin: Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Palestine, Caucasus, Iraq, Iran
  • Abyssinian gladiolus or star gladiolus ( Gladiolus callianthus Marais ), Origin: Ethiopia
  • Cardinal gladiolus ( Gladiolus cardinalis Curtis), Origin: South Africa ( Südwestkap )
  • Flesh pink gladiolus ( Gladiolus carneus D. Delaroche ), Origin: South Africa (Cape )
  • Dwarf gladiolus ( Gladiolus x colvillei Sweet)
  • Ordinary gladiolus ( Gladiolus communis L.), Origin: Europe, Middle East, North West Africa
  • Blood Red gladiolus ( Gladiolus cruentus T. Moore), Origin: South Africa
  • Primrose gladiolus ( Gladiolus dalenii Van Geel ), Origin: Ethiopia, East Africa, South Africa, Arabia
  • Illyrian gladiolus ( Gladiolus illyricus WDJ Koch), Origin: Europe. Turkey, Cyprus, Caucasus
  • Dachzieglige gladiolus or meadows gladiolus ( Gladiolus imbricatus L.), Origin: Europe, Asia
  • Arable or field gladiolus gladiolus ( Gladiolus italicus million, Syn: Gladiolus segetum Ker Gawl. ), Origin: Europe to Central Asia
  • Gladiolus liliaceus Houtt, home. South Africa
  • Gegenblütige gladiolus ( Gladiolus oppositiflorus Herb. ), Origin: Madagascar
  • Marsh gladiolus ( Gladiolus palustris Gaudin ), Origin: Europe
  • Butterfly gladiolus ( Gladiolus papilio Hook f. ), Origin: South Africa
  • Monotonous gladiolus ( Gladiolus tristis L.), Origin: South Africa (Cape )

As garden gladiolus ( Gladiolus × hortulanus ) a hybrid group of Gladiolus tristis, Gladiolus dalenii, Gladiolus oppositiflorus, Gladiolus papilio, Gladiolus carneus, Gladiolus cruentus and Gladiolus cardinalis is called. This is divided into the Grandiflorus group, the Nanus group and the Primulinus group.

Swell

  • Description in the Western Australian flora. (English)
  • Description in the Flora of North America. (English)
  • Walter Erhardt et al: The big walleye. Encyclopedia of plant names. Volume 2 Eugen Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart, 2008. ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7
Ovary (botany) Gladiolus murielae
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