Gladiolus dalenii

Gladiolus dalenii is a species of flowering plant in the iris family Iridaceae. It is one of the most widely distributed species of Gladiolus, ranging from eastern South Africa and Madagascar throughout tropical Africa and into western Arabia. It is the main parental species of the large flowering grandiflora hybrids. This species is also unusual in its genus in including diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid races. The hybrids produced from it are often tetraploids. It produces five tall flower spikes of yellow to scarlet flowers, often streaked red over a yellow ground color, generally with a yellow throat. In cultivation, it prefers a light sandy neutral to slightly acid soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7 in a sunny sheltered position and requires a stony gritty loam.

Description

A herb. It grows up to 90 cm high. The leaves are near the base and long and narrow. The leaves are 2 cm wide. The flowers are on stalks about as high as the leaves. The flowers are usually turned to one side. They are yellow with reddish dots. The flower tube is 3 cm long. The fruit is an oblong capsule.

Edible Uses

The flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. Before use, the anthers are removed; the flowers are then added to salads or used as a boiled vegetable. Children also suck the flowers for their copious quantities of nectar.

Traditional Uses

The anthers are removed and the flowers are eaten raw in salads. They are also used as a potherb. Children suck the flowers for the nectar. The corm is used to make a sweet drink. It is a milk substitute. The corm is eaten cooked.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in wetter areas. It is often in places with a summer rainfall. It needs to be in a sunny position. In Zimbabwe it grows between 980-1,910 m above sea level. It grows in savannah woodland and wet grass savannah.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Prefers a sunny sheltered position in a light sandy neutral to slightly acid soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7. Requires a stony gritty loam. This species is not very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about 0°c. In Britain it may be possible to plant the corms out in spring, harvest them in the autumn and store them overwinter in a cool frost-free place. This species is one of the parents of the cultivated garden gladiolas.

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring in a greenhouse at 15°C, where it usually germinates freely. Seed can also be sown as soon as ripe in autumn in a warm greenhouse. Sow thinly so seedlings can remain in the pot undisturbed for their first year, with occasional liquid feeding to prevent nutrient deficiency. Pot up small bulbs when dormant in autumn, placing 2–3 per pot, and grow on for another year or two under glass before planting out in late spring. For division, dig up corms in October, dry at around 20°C in well-ventilated conditions, and store in a cool but frost-free place over winter, planting out approximately 10 cm deep in April. Cormlets collected at lifting can be stored the same way; larger ones can be planted out in spring, while smaller ones are best grown on for a year under glass first.

Other Uses

None known.

Other Information

The nectar is sucked especially by children.

Notes

There are about 150-300 Gladiolus species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Djabreguele, Hwenyanguruve, Indokwe, Khahla-ea-kholo, Kitungutungu, Sidvwana, Yellow gladiolus

References (23)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 31
• Bot. Mag. 57: t. 3032. 1830 (As Gladiolus psittacinus)
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 472
• Dalziel, J. M., 1937, The Useful plants of west tropical Africa. Crown Agents for the Colonies London.

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