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Synonyms: |
Gladiolus brachyandrus Baker Gladiolus brevispathus (Pax) Klatt Gladiolus dalenii Van Geel var. melleri (Baker) Cordova Gladiolus johnstonii Baker Gladiolus natalensis Reinw. ex Hook. var. melleri (Baker) Geerinck Gladiolus welwitschii Baker subsp. brevispathus Pax |
Common names: | Tropical pink gladiolus (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb, growing annual stems from corms. Some leaves are borne on the flowering stem, usually partly or entirely sheathing and difficult to distinguish from the main stem; foliage leaves normally appear after flowering on separate shoots. Flowering stimulated by fire, the combination of deep salmon-pink flowers and purple stems making a striking contrast with the burnt soil. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | melleri: Named after Charles Meller,naturalist and physician on David Livingstone's Zambezi expedition. |
Habitat: | In seasonally wet ground, often after fires. |
Altitude range: | 700 - 1520 m |
Flowering time: | Aug - Nov |
Worldwide distribution: | Southern tropical Africa. |
Malawi distribution: | N,C,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 212 - 213. (Includes a picture). 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 97 - 99. (Includes a picture). Goldblatt, P. (1996). Gladiolus in Tropical Africa Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. Pages 242 - 246. (Includes a picture). Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 28. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 92. Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Page 16. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 116. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 20, plate 38 |
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