Gladiolus 2009 -2010

[ashley]

Since this doesn't really fit under 'South African bulbose plants' I've started a new thread.

Gladiolus atroviolaceus
G. tristis

[Gerdk]

Ashley, great gladiolus!

Do you cultivate G. violaceus outside and without (rain) protection in winter?

Gerd

[ashley]

No, under glass Gerd because I understand it's less tolerant of wet conditions than most Eurasian species.  I just moved it outside because it was in an awkward position to photograph.

Do you grow this one?  The blue-violet colour is attractive but I had expected it to be darker from the Grey-Wilson & Mathews description and the photos in Phillips & Rix and Janis' books.

[Gerdk]

No, under glass Gerd because I understand it's less tolerant of wet conditions than most Eurasian species.  I just moved it outside because it was in an awkward position to photograph.

Do you grow this one?  The blue-violet colour is attractive but I had expected it to be darker from the Grey-Wilson & Mathews description and the photos in Phillips & Rix and Janis' books.

Thank you Ashley. I also didn't try it outside. I saw this species in NE Turkey near
Mt. Ararat where it becomes very cold in winter (but also snow cover), but I guess in summer dry. The colour of the flowers varies a lot and there are paler and darker ones. Unfortunately no photos.

Gerd
 

[Gerdk]

Another Gladiolus from today -

Gladiolus triphyllus - originally from Cyprus

Gerd

[Hans A.]

Very nice Gladiolus triphyllus - seems to be a smaller species.
Here two species are in flower

Gladiolus illyricus and a pale form of Gladiolus italicus

[Gerdk]

Very nice Gladiolus triphyllus - seems to be a smaller species.
Here two species are in flower
Gladiolus illyricus and a pale form of Gladiolus italicus

Thank you Hans! G. triphyllus is about 30 cm tall - much smaller in the wild.
Your glads are also very showy -
but  - there is a murder inside the pale form 

Gerd

[Paddy Tobin]

Ashley,

I brought a potful of G. tristis into the house about two weeks ago and couldn't believe the magnificent scent, as good as any lily.

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

They are all lovely, and in general, hardy here (I've not grown all of these). Have never seen a white spider before. So well camoulaged no wonder the other chap was caught.

[Hans A.]

Have never seen a white spider before. So well camoulaged no wonder the other chap was caught.

Here a picture of last year - there are also pink ones...

[ashley]

Beautiful plants Gerd and Hans.  I haven't seen G. triphyllus before, nor the pale form of italicus.

Yes the scent is great Paddy, isn't it?  Almost nothing early in the day but builds from afternoon onwards.  Along with the pale colour I suppose this attracts night-flying pollinators such as moths.  Do you grow it outside?

Lesley flower or crab spiders seem to prefer scented flowers, perhaps as more efficient attractors of their insect prey.   

[Anthony Darby]

That crab spider is Thomisus onustus (Thomisidae) and is usually associated with flowers. It can be yellow as well as pink or white, and can tackle prey as large as Xylocopa violacea.

[Lesley Cox]

The pink one is very pretty. Perhaps they take on the colour of the flowers in which they are residing?

[fermi de Sousa]

These are not your Everage Gladdies!
I love them even if aunty Edna wouldn't!
Gerd, I'd never realised that there was a gladdie from Cyprus - and a very nice one too, thanks for showing us.
cheers
fermi

[Ragged Robin]

Another Gladiolus from today -

Gladiolus triphyllus - originally from Cyprus

Gerd

This colour and form is so simple and really lovely - gladiolus are a strange flower either people seem to like them, or hate them...personally they have grown on me especially since I have found the simpler forms and I love the leaves like swords rising from the earth in the Spring. Thanks Gerd for your inspiring photos.