Wild Gladiola - Gladiolus

Family Iridaceae

These were cultivated in England as far back as 1837 and one of the principle species from which all our hybrids we have in our gardens today come from.

 Gladiolus oppositiflorus is pollinated by species of flies with elongated mouthparts, also called long-tongued flies belonging to the family Nemestrinidae, the tangle-veined flies.

The mouthparts of these flies can be several times longer than the body length of the fly, and is ideally adapted to reach nectar at the bottom of the long narrow perianth tube.

The dark red markings on the lower parts of the flower are there to guide the insects towards the inner parts of the flower and are called nectar guides.