Gladiolus communis L. subsp. byzantinus (Mill.) Hamilton

Spice Flower detail Flower In the field

Family: IRIDACEAE

Genus: Gladiolus

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Tarragona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitat: Dry and stony soils.

Characteristics: A small herbaceous plant with a subterranean bulb from which the leaves and fertile stems emerge. The leaves are sword shaped: elongate, flat, with the margins confluent at the end. The flowers are large, some 3-4 cm long, purple coloured, with six, free and uneven sized sepals amongst, with a sort of spicule in which all flowers are arranged, facing one direction in particular. Live in garrigues. Can de differentiated from Gladiolus italicus as this later has rose coloured flowers and lives normally in dry-farmed fields. It is harder though to tell it apart form Gladiolus illyricus; this later species is smaller, with fewer flowers and are of a much more intense purple colouration. Flowers from April to May.