Botany Photo of the Day

Thank you to Jackie Chambers, UBC Botanical Garden horticulturist, for both today's write-up and photograph (from her recent trip to South Africa):

Gladiolus scullyi can be found in South Africa, in the stony, clay scrub land of Namaqualand and Western Karoo. Summer in this part of the world is hot and dry, whereas winter can bring rain and cool temperatures. As a geophyte & existing underground as a corm for part of the year, Gladiolus scullyi is able to withstand these fluctuations in temperature and moisture availability. For more information on the growing conditions of this area, see Namaqualand information via the Conophytum project (more on that genus later this week -- Daniel).

The plant emerges after the winter rains, with flowers produced in August to October (spring time in the southern hemisphere). Individual plants can reach up to 60cm high. The genus name Gladiolus is derived from the Latin for "small sword" and is a reference to the basal, linear leaves.

Gladiolus flowers are composed of 3 sepals and 3 petals, but these structures are similar in colour and texture and so are often referred to singularly as tepals. The plant may produce two to eight flowers, each approximately 3cm in diameter. Flowers are cream or pale yellow at the center, and becoming muddy pinkish-purple towards the tepal tips (see more photographs). The flowers are strongly scented, producing a fragrance sometimes compared to violets.

Gladiolus venustus is another species found in the same area, and it may look very similar to Gladiolus scullyi. According to Manning & Goldblatt in South African Wild Flower Guide 9, the difference is in tepal color and shape. Gladiolus venustus tends to have a bright yellow center and bold cerise markings; also the lower tepals are sharply flexed downwards and pinched together (photographs of Gladiolus venustus).