Gladiolus- Botany

Beginning in the 1800s, the Gladiolus became wildy popular. Gardeners in England used hybridizing techniques that gave rise to the 400 and more varieites today. The Gladiolus's ancestral home belongs to the Cape of Good Hope. Nicknamed the 'Sword Lily', it use to be represented by Roman gladiators. An ancient name for the gladiolus was "xiphium," from the Greek word xiphos, also meaning sword. African gladioli were imported in large amounts to Europe from South Africa …

…made up of an inferior ovary and a long white-pink style. The ovary of the Gladiolus is 2-locular. This plant is usually grown from round symmetrical corms. Its flowers come in a variety of colors that are pink, red, purple, white, and orange. The fruit is a 3 bulged green capsule which releases orange/brown seeds when they are ripen enough. Finally, the Gladiolus contains a perianth that is funnel-shaped and has stamens at its base.