Gladiolus
About the Gladiolus
Named from Latin gladius (sword) for their sword-shaped leaves. They grow from corms and can reach 1.5 meters tall with up to 20 flowers per spike. They are the 40th wedding anniversary flower. Over 300 species. They are the birth flower for August. Gladiolus commemorative rituals were performed at Roman gladiatorial games. They are among the most popular cut flowers worldwide. They require staking in windy locations. Some species are used in traditional African medicine. The corms are poisonous if eaten raw.
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