Gladiolus Tourn. ex L.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Perennials with corms with coriaceous to fibrous and reticulate tunics

Morphology Leaves

Leaves few to several, the lower (2–)3 entirely sheathing and mostly below ground; foliage leaves usually contemporary with the flowers (or leaves produced after flowering, then on the same shoot or on separate shoots), few to several, basal or cauline, blades well developed or reduced and largely to entirely sheathing, lanceolate to linear and plane or filiform and terete, the margins, midrib and sometimes other veins thickened and hyaline (margins sometimes winged)

Morphology Stem

Stem terete, simple or branched

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a spike, the flowers turned to one side or sometimes in 2 rows; bracts usually green, soft to firm, sometimes dry and brown at anthesis, relatively large, the inner usually smaller than the outer

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers zygomorphic or sometimes regular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal

Tepals united in a well developed, sometimes very long tube, subequal to unequal with the uppermost broader and arching to hooded over the stamens, the lower three narrower, shorter or longer than the dorsal

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments unilateral and curved, included or exserted from the tube; anthers unilateral (symmetrical in regular flowers)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style exserted, the branches simple, usually expanded above and sometimes apically bilobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsules large and slightly inflated

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds usually many, usually with a broad membranous wing.

Distribution

Some 285 species, centred in southern Africa and extending through tropical Africa and Madagascar to Europe and the Middle East.

Iridaceae, P. Goldblatt. Flora Zambesiaca 12:4. 1993

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs with corms, aerial parts dying back annually; corms with coriaceous to fibrous and reticulate tunics.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves few to several, the lower (2)3 entirely sheathing and mostly below ground (cataphylls); foliage leaves usually synanthous (more or less fully developed at flowering), or hysteranthous (developing after flowering on the same shoot or borne on separate shoots), few to several, basal or cauline, blades well developed or reduced and largely to entirely sheathing, lanceolate to linear and plane or filiform and terete, the margins, midrib and sometimes also other veins thickened and hyaline (margins sometimes winged).

Morphology Stem

Stem terete, simple or branched.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a spike with flowers secund or, in a few species, distichous); floral bracts usually green, soft to firm, sometimes dry and brown at anthesis, relatively large, the inner usually smaller than the outer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers zygomorphic (actinomorphic in a few species from South Africa, Zaire and Madagascar); tepals united in a well developed, sometimes very long perianth tube; subequal, or unequal with the uppermost broader and arching to hooded over the stamens, the lower 3 narrower, shorter or longer than the upper.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens unilateral and arcuate; filaments included or exserted from the perianth tube; anthers unilateral (symmetrical in actinomorphic flowers).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style exserted; style branches simple, expanded above and sometimes apically bilobed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsules large and slightly inflated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds usually many, with a broad membranous wing about the circumference (wingless in a few species).