Family: Iridaceae
Gladiolus tristis
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. edn 2:53 (1762).
Synonymy: G. grandis sensu Ewart, Fl. Vict. 306 (1931), non Thunb.; Acidanthera platypetala sensu J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 205 (1943), non Baker; G. longicollis sensu H. Eichler, Suppl. 86 (1965), non Baker.
Common name: Large-flowered (or evening flower) gladiolus.
Description:
Perennial 30-60 cm high; corm 1-3 cm diam.; leaves 2-4, the lowest one narrowly linear, 30-60 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, rigid, cruciform in section with a thickened mid-vein and margins, glabrous; other leaves much shorter, cauline.
Spike straight, erect, one-sided, 2-7-flowered; spathe bracts linear-oblong, 3-5 cm long; flowers funnel-shaped, a dull pale-yellow with a dark stripe on each segment and often blackish-green veining or speckling, strongly scented at night; perianth tube exserted, slender in the lower half, curved and dilated above, 4-6 cm long; lobes ovate-elliptic, 2-3 cm long, confluent with the tube; dorsal lobe wider than the others; lower 3 shortly connate; anthers 12-14 mm long, dark; style branches 4-6 mm long, abruptly dilated and obcordate at the apex, exceeding the anthers.
Distribution:
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Forming large colonies on roadsides and other cleared land.
S.Aust.: EP, YP, SL, KI. W.Aust.; Vic.; Tas. Native to South Africa.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Sept., Oct.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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