Parrot-beak gladiolus, Dragon's head lily
Gladiolus dalenii

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows up to 90 cm high. The leaves are near the base and long and narrow. The leaves are 2 cm wide. The flowers are on stalks about as high as the leaves. The flowers are usually turned to one side. They are yellow with reddish dots. The flower tube is 3 cm long. The fruit is an oblong capsule.

There are about 150-300 Gladiolus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wetter areas. It is often in places with a summer rainfall. It needs to be in a sunny position. In Zimbabwe it grows between 980-1,910 m above sea level. It grows in savannah woodland and wet grass savannah.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The anthers are removed and the flowers are eaten raw in salads. They are also used as a potherb. Children suck the flowers for the nectar. The corm is used to make a sweet drink. It is a milk substitute. The corm is eaten cooked.

The nectar is sucked especially by children.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, corms, root, nectar

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Djabreguele, Hwenyanguruve, Indokwe, Khahla-ea-kholo, Kitungutungu, Sidvwana, Yellow gladiolus

Synonyms

Antholyza laxiflora Baker Antholyza schlechteri Baker Bobartia natalensis (Regel) Klatt Gladiolus adlami Baker Gladiolus affinis De Wild. [Illegitimate]; Gladiolus angolensis Baker; Gladiolus anorthanthus Ingram; Gladiolus antholyzoides Baker; Gladiolus barnardii G.J.Lewis; Gladiolus boehmii Vaupel; Gladiolus brachylimbus Baker; Gladiolus buettneri Pax; Gladiolus caffensis Cufod.; Gladiolus calothyrsus Vaupel; Gladiolus coccineus L.Bolus [Illegitimate]; Gladiolus cooperi Baker; Gladiolus corneus Oliv.; Gladiolus dalenii subsp. dalenii; Gladiolus dracocephalus Hook.f.; Gladiolus fuscoviridis Baker; Gladiolus gallaensis Vaupel; Gladiolus garuanus Vaupel; Gladiolus hockii De Wild.; Gladiolus ignescens Bojer ex Baker; Gladiolus kilimandscharicus Pax ex Engl.; Gladiolus leichtlinii Baker; Gladiolus leptophyllus L.Bolus; Gladiolus louwii L.Bolus; Gladiolus luembensis De Wild.; Gladiolus luteolus Klatt; Gladiolus magaliesmontanus F.Bolus [Illegitimate]; Gladiolus natalensis Reinw. ex Hook. [Illegitimate]; Gladiolus nebulicola Ingram; Gladiolus newii Baker; Gladiolus occidentalis A.Chev. [Invalid]; Gladiolus pageae L.Bolus; Gladiolus platyphyllus Baker; Gladiolus primulinus Baker; Gladiolus psittacinus Hook.; Gladiolus quartinianus A.Rich.; Gladiolus retrocurvus G.J.Lewis; Gladiolus saltatorum Baker; Gladiolus schimperianus Steud. ex Baker; Gladiolus splendidus Rendle; Gladiolus strictiflorus L.Bolus [Illegitimate]; Gladiolus sulphureus Baker ex Oliv. [Illegitimate]; Gladiolus taylorianus Rendle; Gladiolus tysonii Baker; Gladiolus vogtsii L.Bolus; Keitia natalensis Regel; Watsonia natalensis Eckl.;