Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Iridaceae Juss.
 Subordinate Taxa
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Gladiolus L., Sp. Pl. 36-37 (1753)
Synonymy:
  • = Acidanthera Hochst.
  • = Homoglossum Salisb., Gen. Pl. [Salisbury] 143 (1866)
Vernacular Name(s):
Gladiolus
 Description

Summer-green perennial. Corm globose; tunic fibrous, brown. Leaves often ensiform, equitant. Spike loose, unilateral or distichous. Flowers showy, each with 2 large, herbaceous, lanceolate, green spathe-valves (inner valve bifid); tube funnel-shaped, gradually dilated, curved; iobes usually unequal, 3 upper larger. Stamens asymmetric. Style-branches entire. Capsule oblong, globose to cylindrical. Seeds many.

[From: Healy and Edgar (1980) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 3.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
Number of species and named hybrids in New Zealand within Gladiolus L.
CategoryNumber
Exotic: Fully Naturalised2
Exotic: Casual6
Exotic: Cultivated1
Total9
 Bibliography
Hobbs, J.; Hatch, T. 1994: Bulbs for New Zealand Gardens. Godwit Press, Auckland.
Linnaeus, C. 1753: Species Plantarum. Impensis Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Salisbury, R.A. 1866: The Genera of Plants. A fragment containing part of Liriogamae. John van Voorst, London.