Gladiolus velutinus De Wild.

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Gladiolus velutinus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bottom of Zovo Chipolo Trail, Nyika Plateau

Gladiolus velutinus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bottom of Zovo Chipolo Trail, Nyika Plateau

Gladiolus velutinus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bottom of Zovo Chipolo Trail, Nyika Plateau

Gladiolus velutinus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bottom of Zovo Chipolo Trail, Nyika Plateau

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Gladiolus katubensis De Wild.
Gladiolus vallidissimus Vaupel
Gladiolus xanthus L. Bolus
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Pernnial herb 1–1.5 m high, growing from depressed-globose corms 5–7 mm in diameter. Leaves several, mostly basal or inserted in the lower part of the stem, reaching to about the base of the spike, lanceolate, 15–35 mm wide, margins, midrib and usually at least one other pair of veins thickened, densely and minutely papillose to short-pubescent on both surfaces. Spike 6–10-flowered. Flowers 3–7 cm apart pale-yellow with greenish highlights; perianth tube 30–40 mm long, curving outward above, gradually expanding toward the apex; upper tepal c. 4 cm long and 2 cm wide, hooded over the stamens, lateral tepals directed forward and curving outward only near the apex, lower 3 tepals up to half as long as the upper, curving downward from the base.
Notes: This species is similar to the widespread Gladiolus dalenii but being a generally lager plant, always in wet places, consistently with pale yellow flowers and broad, densely velvety leaves with thickened veins, make it easily distinguishable.
Derivation of specific name: velutinus: velvety referring to the surface of the leaves.
Habitat: In marshes, dambos and on streambanks.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:Dec - Jan
Worldwide distribution: Southeastern DRC, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia
Malawi distribution: N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Friday 3 May 2019
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 310. (Includes a picture).

Goldblatt, P. (1993). Iridaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(4) Pages 93 - 94.

Goldblatt, P. (1996). Gladiolus in Tropical Africa Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. Pages 221 - 224. (Includes a picture).

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 116.

Other sources of information about Gladiolus velutinus:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Gladiolus velutinus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Gladiolus velutinus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Gladiolus velutinus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Gladiolus velutinus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Gladiolus velutinus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Gladiolus velutinus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Gladiolus velutinus
JSTOR Plant Science: Gladiolus velutinus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Gladiolus velutinus
Plants of the World Online: Gladiolus velutinus
Tropicos: Gladiolus velutinus
Wikipedia: Gladiolus velutinus


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Malawi: Species information: Gladiolus velutinus.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=211970, retrieved 29 March 2024

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