Gladiolus caryophyllaceus
Common name: Wild Gladiolus
Gladiolus is a Latin word meaning a small sword, referring to the leaf shape. Caryophyllaceus refers to the genus Caryophyllus, a former name for the clove tree. It refers to the scent of the flowers.
Occurs in disturbed sites of the south west of Western Australia.
The flower stems are up to 80 centimetres tall. The leaves have a red margin and can be twisted spirally in an anti-clockwise direction. The distinctive pink flowers are produced from August to October.
The plant is originally from, but now rare in, the Cape Province of South Africa.
Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. Third edition 2019.
Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.
Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2898292
Florabase https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1520