Sword lily
Gladiolus unguiculatus

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 30-60 cm high. The corms are 15-25 mm across. The leaves develop on separate shoots after the flowering. There are up to 18 flowers on a stalk. They are purple and have some white parts.

There are about 150-300 Gladiolus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in seasonally wet sites. It grows in wooded grassland.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Corm, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Gladiolus brevicaulis Baker; Gladiolus oatesii Rolfe;