Page 26 - LandscapeSA Issue 106
P. 26
ENVIRONMENTAL fEATURE
Gladiolus crassifolius, a small flowered Gladiolus, commonly known as Thick- leaved. The
fsors are usually packed in a one-sided spike. They have colours of pink and orange...and
cream flushed with pink or mauve. They have darker markings of brighter colours on the
lower lips. Their habitat is wet grassland.
Gladiolus papilio is considered to be butterfly-like in appearance; probably because of dark purple
and dark green markings and blotches on the lower tepals, serving as nectar guides. Its distribution
is widespread in the summer rainfall areas, in marshes and wet grassland. They often grow in
colonies and produce pastel or translucent colours, such as mauve, cream, greenish, pink and the
more common pale yellow. The flowers are nodding-like folded butterfly wings.
The book is published by Struik Nature.
24 Landscape SA • Issue 106 2021
