GLADIOLUSL. - SWORD LILY
Scientific Description:
Glabrous perennials. Corms symmetrical, ovoid to subglobose, enclosed by several layers of brownish fibrous tunics. Lowest leaf reduced to a ± subterranean sheathing cataphyll; cauline leaves 2-many, smooth or finely papillose, greenish or glaucous, synanthous, ensiform, vaginate and equitant, venation parallel or irregular, the main veins being displaced towards abaxial margin above junction with sheath. Flowers laxly or densely dispersed, secund or not, each subtended by a 2-valved spathe. Perianth zygomorphic, with an infundibular hypanthial tube and 6 unequal segments (2 median and 4 lateral); 3 upper segments usually broader, uppermost often hooded, 3 lower narrower, usually long-clawed, often marked with contrasting coloured patches. Filaments adnate to perianth tube, filiform, arched; anthers included, basifixed. Style filiform, cleft at apex into 3 dilated-spathulate branches with decurrent stigmatic surfaces; ovary 3-locular, capsule loculicidal, many-seeded. Seeds flattened-ellipsoid to globose-triquetrous, winged or unwinged.
Reference:
Tan KIT & Edmondson JR (1984). Gladiolus L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 441−442.
Public Description:
Gladiolus, known as “sword lily”, occurs in Asia, Mediterranean Europe, South Africa, and tropical Africa. The genus name is derived from the word "gladius" in Latin meaning "sword" and is attributed to the sword-shaped leaves of the plant. There are approximately 280 species in the world and 10 species (10 taxa) in Türkiye. They are bulbous perennial plants and generally, their pink or purple-colored flowers are arranged as spikes. Cultural forms are widely used, especially in cut flowers.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiolus/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.
Anonymous 2 (2016). http://www.britannica.com/plant/Gladiolus, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.
Anonymous 3 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Iridaceae/Gladiolus/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.
Yüzbaşıoğlu S İ (2012). Gladiolus L. In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 535.
.JPG)