gladiolus

[ glad-ee-oh-luhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural glad·i·o·lus, glad·i·o·li [glad-ee-, oh, -lahy], glad·i·o·lus·es glad·i·o·li

any plant of the genus Gladiolus, of the iris family, native especially to Africa, having erect, sword-shaped leaves and spikes of flowers in a variety of colors.
Anatomy. the middle and largest segment of the sternum. Compare manubrium ( def 2a ), xiphisternum.

gladiolus

/ ˌɡlædɪˈəʊləs /

Also calledsword lilygladiola any iridaceous plant of the widely cultivated genus Gladiolus, having sword-shaped leaves and spikes of funnel-shaped brightly coloured flowers
anatomy the large central part of the breastbone

1560–70; < Latin: small sword, sword lily, equivalent to gladi ( us ) sword + -olus -ole ¹

C16: from Latin: a small sword, sword lily, from gladius a sword

To secure the best effect from it, the Gladiolus should be planted in masses.

The purple gladiolus glows through all its green fields in early spring.

Shooting up behind and among it is a tall, salmon-coloured Gladiolus, a telling contrast both in form and manner of inflorescence.

Fine as are the newer forms of hybrid Gladiolus, the older strain of gandavensis hybrids are still the best as border flowers.

These of course come up, and any patches of Gladiolus are collected, to be dried for a time and then stored.

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