Byzantine gladiolus
Gladiolus communis

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

A plant with a corm. It grows 50-75 cm high and 8-10 cm wide. The leaves are grey. The leaves sheath the stem. There are 3-5 leaves and they are sword shaped. they have several prominent veins. The flowers are purple or red. There are 5-10 on a stem in 2 alternating ranks.

There are about 180 Gladiolus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It is naturalised in Tasmania. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Europe, France, Italy, Mediterranean, Sicily, Spain, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The starch of the root is a famine food for extending bread flour, after removing the bitter element.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Root-starch

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Spatuliddra

Synonyms

Gladiolus byzantinus Mill.; Gladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus (Mill.) Douin; and several others