Gladiolus
(diminutive of gladius, a sword; referring to the shape of the leaves). Corn Flag. ORD. Irideae. This genus contains about ninety species of so-called "bulbous" plants, many of which are amongst the most popular of outdoor summer and autumn-flowering subjects. The geographical distribution is Central Europe, the Mediterranean region, West Asia and Africa-the headquarters of the genus being South Africa. The flowers are secund, spiked, borne on tall scapes, the colours being very varied; the perianth is sub-bilabiate, with a short curved tube. The leaves are all equitant and sword-shaped; and the corms have netted fibrous coats. Original species have long since been superseded by the very numerous and beautiful hybrids that are in cultivation. Many of the former are, however, very ornamental, and well worthy of retaining for pot culture in cool houses, or for mixed flower borders, in summer. Improvement in the Gladiolus is wholly due to the efforts of hybridisers, who took it in hand, first in France, some fifty years ago, and afterwards in this country, about the middle of the present century. Varieties that were subsequently, and those which are still annually, obtained, represent an extreme diversity in the colouring of the flowers. Some are pure white, others range from that colour to deep crimson, and include yellowish and purple shades, many being beautifully flaked and marked. Gladioli are propagated by seeds, which ripen and germinate pretty freely; and by numerous large and small bulbils, usually termed "spawn," that are found round the old corms, or on the ends of the roots, in autumn. Seeds should be sown early in March, preferably in large pans or pots, where the young plants may be thinned and allowed to remain for the first season. The pans should first be placed in heat, and, as the seedlings appear, a light position and more air should be given, in order to gradually harden off for placing outside all the summer. If well attended to when growing, and afterwards thorougly ripened in autumn, the young corms may be stored like larger ones, and many of them will flower the second year. For increasing stock of any one or more varieties, the small corms should be separated from those intended for flowering, and planted from 4in. to 6in. apart, in a warm border, about the middle of March. If watered, and allowed to grow for the summer, many of them will become large enough to flower the following year. Cultivation. A deep rich soil, and a sheltered, sunny position, are requisite for attaining the best results. Plenty of manure may be intermixed with the soil, in the autumn, when trenching and other preparations for Gladioli should be commenced; but none should be applied in a fresh state at planting time, as it tends to cause decay in the corms, if coming in contact with them before growth commences. Brenchleyensis is an old sort, but still one of the best and most extensively grown. It increases rapidly and is of a good constitution, succeeding with telling effect when planted either in a bed or in small groups of about half-a-dozen, in various parts of mixed flower borders or shrubberies. If the planting of a portion is commenced early in March, and continued at intervals till the end of May, the flowering period may be similarly prolonged until late in the autumn. The corms should be inserted about 3in. deep, and 1ft. apart, if in beds; and a circular group may consist of four or five, in a space of 1ft. diameter. Each plant will require a stake before the flowering season arrives, to prevent injury from rough winds. In hot weather, plenty of water must be given, and a mulching of short manure is always beneficial as a preventative of undue evaporation. Before the appearance of severe frost, the corms should be lifted, with their tops intact, and laid in a cool, dry shed, to become ripened, when the tops may be cut off close down, and the corms placed in paper bags, until planting time. This specially refers to the South African species, and to all the finer hybrids; except in very dry sandy soils, it would be unwise to leave the corms of these in the ground throughout the winter. The South European species do not need any such attention. The large and small ones are best separated when storing; and the bags should be labelled according to the size or the variety contained in each.
Culture in Pots. Large-flowering Gladioli succeed in pots, if desired for summer or autumn decoration of greenhouses, &c. One large corm is sufficient for a 7in. pot, and successional batches may be inserted in rich soil, and grown in a frame where plenty of air can be admitted, or in a sheltered position outside. G. Colvillei and its white form, known as "The Bride," are amongst the most beautiful for pot culture. They succeed admirably, and may be had in full beauty in April and May, if gently forced. The corms are small, and do not require much root space. About five of them should be placed in a 5in. or 6in. pot, in autumn, and either covered for a time with ashes outside, as ordinary bulbs are, or placed in a cold frame from the first. When roots are formed, and growth begins, a few pots at a time should be successionally placed in a temperature of about 55deg. Each strong corm will produce two or more flower scapes, and, when these appear, a little higher temperature may be given, always selecting a situation exposed to light, and applying plenty of water to the roots. Later batches come on all right in a cold frame. G. Colvillei and G. C. alba succeed equally well with the larger-flowered varieties, when planted outside in summer. Any Gladiolus flowers expand well in water when they are far enough advanced to begin opening naturally. With a system specially adopted by exhibitors, the whole of the flowers in a spike are secured at one time by placing the latter in water at a certain stage, and encouraging the flowers to expand slowly in a cool place. Except where otherwise stated, the species enumerated below are natives of the Cape of Good Hope.
G. blandus (fair).* fl. white, with red markings, large; tube yellow, shorter than the spathe. June. l. ensiform, nerved. Stem 6in. to 2ft. high, three to ten-flowered. 1774. (B. M. 625.) G. b. campanulatus (bell-shaped). A large and strong variety, with whitish-purple flowers. (B. M. 645.) G. brachyandrus (short-stamened).* fl., perianth bright pale scarlet, 2in. to 2 1/2in. long; tube 1/2in. long; segments oblong, acute; spike nearly 1ft. long, eight to ten-flowered. July. l. four or five, near the base of the stem, strongly ribbed and margined, not more than 3in. long, about 1/2in. broad. h. 2ft. Tropical Africa, 1879. (B. M. 6463.) G. byzantinus (Byzantine).* fl. red; corolla adscendent, nodding; spikes many-flowered. June. l. narrow, deep green. h. 2ft. Turkey, 1629. (B. M. 874.) G. cardinalis (cardinal).* fl. fine scarlet; corolla with large white rhomboidal spots, erect; limb campanulate. July and August. l. ensiform, many-nerved. Stem 3ft. to 4ft. high. 1789. (B. M. 135.) G. Colvillei (Colville's).* fl., perianth tubular; limb bright red, with pale purple markings, spreading. July. l. linearly ensiform, acute, strongly nerved in the middle on both sides. Stem slightly flexuose, 1 1/2ft. high, leafy, slightly angular, glaucous. A garden hybrid between G. cardinalis and G. tristis. (S. B. F. G. 155.) G. C. alba (white) is a charming white-flowered form; it is very largely cultivated for decorative purposes by some of the plant growers--who supply Covent Garden-under the name of The Bride.
G. communis (common). fl. bright rose, sometimes white; tube short; upper segments approaching, larger than the lower ones, the three internal ones almost equal; spike unilateral, six to eight-flowered. Summer. h. 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. South Europe, 1596. (B. M. 86 and 1575.) G. Cooperi (Cooper's). fl., perianth tube yellowish-green, funnel-shaped; limb yellow, closely lined with purplish-red; expanded spike 1ft. long, eight to twelve-flowered. September. l. radical, about six, erect, ensiform, glabrous, acuminate, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, 1in. broad, strongly ribbed. h. 2ft. 1862. (B. M. 6202.) G. cruentus (bloody).* fl. brilliant scarlet, yellow-white and speckled with red at base of limb, broadly campanulate, 4in. in diameter; two lower lateral segments of perianth marked with white; spike 6in. to 10in. long, dense-flowered. September. l. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, linear-ensiform. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Natal, 1868. (B. M. 5810.) G. cuspidatus (abruptly-pointed).* fl. varying much in colour, usually beautifully marked with purple and red in the lower segments; tube filiform, straight. May and June. l. ensiform, generally shorter than the stem 2ft. to 3ft. high. 1795. A magnificent plant. (B. M. 582.) G. c. ventricosus (swelling). a variety with reddish flowers, which are not so upright, and with a shorter tube and less inflated spathe than the type. May and June. (B. M. 591, under name of G. carneus.) G. dracocephalus (dragon's head). fl., perianth yellowish, closely striated with dull red-purple, about 2in. long and broad; lower segments bright green, spotted purple; spikes erect, five to seven-flowered. August l. 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, pale green. Stem 16in. to 18in. high, stout, terete. 1871. (B. M. 5884.) G. floribundus (bundle-flowered).* fl. four to six, large and upright; limb segments varying from dirty-white with a broad livid purple longitudinal fillet, to bright flesh-colour with a lively red fillet; anthers dark violet. May. l. strongly and many-nerved. Stem about 1ft. high, flower-bearing nearly to its base. 1788. (B. M. 610.) G. gandavensis (Ghent). fl. rich crimson, marked with yellow. Summer. According to Van Houtte, this is a hybrid between G. psittacinus and G. cardinalis; whilst Herbert believes it to have originated between G. psittacinus and G. oppositiflorus. SYN. G. gandiensis. (P. M. B. xi., p. 27.) G. gandiensis (Ghent). A synonym of G. gandavensis.
G. gracilis (slender). fl. white, variable, similar to those of G. recurvus. March and April. l. thick and flat, with a deep square groove on both sides. Stem 1ft. to 3ft.high. 1800. (B. M. 562.) G. grandis (large). fl. reddish-brown to whitish; segments of flower longer than the throat. May and June. l. linear-ensiform, three-ribbed on each side. h. 1 1/2ft. 1794. (B. M. 1042, under name of G. versicolor.) G. hastatus (halbert-shaped). fl., perianth pinkish-white, reddish on the outside, 2 1/2in. high. April and May. l. radical.h. 1ft. 1816. This species is nearly allied to G. blandus. (B. M. 1564.) G. Papilio (butterfly-flowered).* fl. very pale purple, marked with rich dark purple and golden-yellow; spike slender, 1ft. or more long. l. narrow-ensiform, 2ft. to 3ft. long; apex acuminate. h. 3ft. 1866. (B. M. 5565.) G. plicatus (folded). A synonym of Babiana stricta sulphurea. G. psittacinus (parrot-like).* fl., corolla tube greenish, with purple streaks; limb campanulate, spreading,rich scarlet (in bud purplish-blood colour), lined and spotted with yellow; spikes 1ft. or more long, ten to twelve-flowered. Summer and autumn. l. distichous; lower ones 1ft. or more long. Stem 3ft. high. South-eastern Africa, &c. (B. M. 3032.) G. pudibundus (modest). fl. brilliant rose, large, about ten in number, in a distichous spike; spathes two-valved; anthers purple. l. broadly ensiform, acuminate, ribbed, pale green. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. high. A garden hybrid between G. blandus and G. cardinalis. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 176.) G. purpureo-auratus(purple-and-golden).* fl. almost bifarious; perianth limb golden-yellow, with a large purple blotch on the two lower segments. August. l. 6in. to 9in. long, 3/4in. broad, acuminate, erect. h. 3ft. to 4ft. 1872. (B. M. 5944.) G. Quartinianus (Quartin Dillon's). fl. yellow, flushed and spotted with scarlet; spathes herbaceous, lanceolate, about 2in. long; spike about six-flowered. August. l. linear-ensiform, 1ft. or more long, rigid, prominently nerved. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Tropical Africa, 1883. (B. M. 6739.) G. recurvus (recurved). fl. yellow, thickly dotted with blue, which colour eventually predominates, violet-scented; spathes about half the length of the corolla, much longer than the tube. April and May. l. three, outer one nearly the height of the stem. Stem 1ft. to 3ft. high, slender, erect. Root sheath white, mottled with purplish-brown. 1758. The flowers of this species are the most exquisitely scented of the whole genus. (B. M. 578.) G. sambucinus (Elder-scented). A synonym of Babiana sambucina. G. Saundersii (Saunders').* fl. crimson, spotted with white, six to twelve, rather remote; perianth 3in. to 3 1/2in. diameter; anthers yellow. Autumn. l. 2ft. to 3ft. long, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad, strongly nerved. h. 2ft. to 3ft. 1871. (B. M. 5873.) G. segetum (cornfield). fl. rose-coloured, in two rows; lower segments unequal, each with a long, narrow white spot. h. 2ft. South Europe, 1596. (B. M. 719.) G. sericeo-villosus (shaggy-stemmed). fl. a very peculiar yellow-green, tinged with pale yellowish-brown; spikes many-flowered; corolla limb tinged with red, campanulate; spathes shaggy. June. l. linear-ensiform, striped. Stem with shaggy-silky clothing. h. 3ft. to 4ft. 1864. (B. M. 5427.) G. sulphureus (sulphur). A synonym of Babiana stricta sulphurea. G. tristis (sad). fl. cernuous, 2in. to 3in. deep; corolla tube funnel-shaped, rather shorter than the divisions, the ground-work yellow, the three upper segments minutely spotted all over, both externally and internally, with small reddish-brown dots, the three lower ones narrower and spotted only on the outer half. July. l. with long cylindrical spathes below, almost tetragonal. h. 1ft. Natal, 1745. (B. M. 1098; Ref. B. 23.) G. vittatus (striped). fl. pink, with darker stripes; anthers purple; corolla erect, funnel-shaped. May. l. ensiform. Stem 8in. to 12in high, simple or branched. 1760. (B. M. 538, under name of G. undulatus var.) Varieties. Named collections are expensive, and not largely grown, unless they are required for exhibition. The subjoined list includes a selection of new and older varieties, of varied colours, that are amongst the best for this purpose, although it contains only a few compared with the large number offered for sale by nurserymen. Seedlings are now very good, if obtained from a reliable source, and answer for purposes of decoration almost equally as well as named ones, excepting the well-known Brenchleyensis and gandavensis varieties, from which the majority of those in cultivation have descended, and which are now tolerably cheap, and well worth growing on an extensive scale. AGDESTES, white, violet blotch on lower petal, large, handsome; AGNES MARY, white, shaded pale lilac, purplish mark on lower petal; ANNA, cherry, striped carmine, white ground; ASTRAEA, scarlet-crimson, with pale rose stripe, white centre; BRENCH-LEYENSIS, vermilion-scarlet, large spikes, one of the best grown; CALLIPHON, rose, streaked brighter colour, light centre; CAPTAIN BOYTON, red, bluish centre, white spots on lower petals; COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE, rich purple, flaked lake; DAMIA, white, tinged pale purple or lilac; DELICATISSIMA, white, shaded lilac; DR. BENSON, light scarlet, purple centre; DR. HOGG, mauve, suffused rose, centre white; DUKE OF TECK, blush-white, rosy-red centre, fine; EARL OF AIRLIE, orange-red, crimson-scarlet mark on lower petal;ELECTRA, pale rosy-purple, violet stripe on lower petal, fine, well-formed; FELICIEN DAVID, rosy-cerise, striped carmine; HELUM, violet-purple, deep purple flake; HESPERIA, orange-scarlet, purple throat; HOGARTH, white, lower part flaked lilac-purple; LADY BRIDPORT, blush, striped carmine, extra large and fine; LADY CARRINGTON, pale lilac, white centre, very fine; LADY LEIGH, white, tinted rose, flaked pale purple; LA FRANCE, pale flesh-colour inside, flaked rosy-purple outside, lower petal tipped yellow; L'ALSACE, pale canary, lower petal blotched dull carmine, very pretty; LEMOINEI, creamy, blotched maroon-crimson, good decorative variety; LORD BYRON, scarlet, spot white; LORD POWIS, white, bordered rose, flaked red; MADAME VILMORIN, bright rose, white centre; MARCIANUS, orange-red, striped carmine, fine; MARECHAL BAZAINE, scarlet, white centre, and flake on each petal; MARS, deep scarlet; MASQUE DE FER, bronzy-red, lower segments darker, velvety, yellow spot in centre; MR. DERRY, pale lilac-purple, veined rosy-purple, fine; MR. THORNTON, purplish-crimson, veined red; MRS. J. EYTON, white, shaded and striped lilac-rose; MRS. LAXTON, rosy-red, ivory-white centre; NAPOLEON III, scarlet, blotched white: NEOCLES, white, purple on the lower petals; PICTUM, salmon-scarlet, flaked carmine, fine; QUEEN MARY, white, purplish-violet stripe on lower petal, fine; REMBRANDT, brilliant-scarlet, good; REMUS, bright rosy-purple, flaked crimson; REV. M. J. BERKELEY, orange-scarlet, flaked carmine, pure white centre; RICHARD DEAN, light crimson, carmine stripe on lower petal; SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, salmon-red, flaked crimson; SOLFA-TERRE, yellow, spotted carmine; TELAMON, flesh-colour, flaked carmine, white throat; THOMAS METHVEN, violet, tinted rose; UNA, scarlet, white centre, petals flaked white, fine; VICTORY, crimson, flaked purple centre, fine; W. E. GUMBLETON, rosy-purple, striped carmine, maroon spots, fine decorative variety; YELLOW KING, yellow, orange centre, flaked carmine.