Gladiolus italicus Mill. Italian Gladiolus

Gladiolus italicus Mill. - Italian Gladiolus

Scientific Description:

Corm tunic coarsely reticulate-fibrous. Stem 25−70 cm. Leaves (3−)4−5(−6), lamina (5−)8−12 mm broad, not glaucous, veins irregularly spaced. Spike lax, (3−)6−12−flowered, distichous or weakly secund. Perianth pale pink, purplished or magenta; tube slightly curved, posterior 10−12 mm, anterior 12−14 mm; upper median segment oblanceolate, rounded or mucronate, 26−30(−35) × 8−10 mm; upper lateral shorter and narrower, 22−30 × 5−6 mm; lower segments linear-oblanceolate to spathulate, scarcely clawed, 20−32 × 5−6 mm. Anthers 12−16 mm, filaments 8−10 mm. Capsule obovoid, 1−1.5 cm; seeds triquetrous, 3−3.5 × 2−2.5 mm, reddish brown, unwinged.

 

Flowering time: February−June(-July).

Habitat: Often a weed of cultivated and fallow fields (especially cornfields), also found in disturbed areas, limestone slopes and escarpments, on basalt, sand dunes, s.l.−l650 m.

 

Reference:
Tan KIT & Edmondson JR (1984). Gladiolus italicus Miller, In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 8: 443.

Public Description:

Gladiolus italicus, known as “Italian gladiolus”, is a well-known alien weed that grows naturally in most parts of Eurasia and in North Africa but spreads to other countries. The genus name is derived from the word "gladius" in Latin meaning "sword" and is attributed to the sword-shaped leaves of the plant. It is a bulbous perennial plant and its pink colored flowers are arranged as spikes. It blooms between February and June and grows especially in cultivated areas. Cultural forms are widely used, especially in cut flowers.

 

References:

Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiolus_italicus, 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.