Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Fig. 111.
Gladiolus dalenii
subsp. dalenii,
from Tanzania.
Subspecies
Gladiolus dalenii
subsp. dalenii
Habitat and
distribution
ZYGOTRITONIA GLADIOLUS 249
downward, 20–25(–30) × 8–12 mm. Filaments c.. 25 mm long,
exserted 15–18 mm from tube. Style arched over stamens, dividing
near apex of anthers, branches (4–)5–6 mm long. Capsules ellipsoid
to ovoid, (18–)25–35 mm long 12–14 mm in diameter at wide.
1. Leaves of flowering stem with long well-developed blades (i.e.,
leaves and flowers seen together). a. subsp. dalenii
- Leaves of flowering stem either entirely sheathing or with short
blades to 10(–15) cm long and long-bladed foliage leaves always
produced on separate shoots later in the season (i.e., leaves and
flowers not seen together). b. subsp. andongensis
a. subsp. dalenii
Plant (50–)70–120 cm high. Leaves borne on flowering stem, 4–6(–
7), at least lower 2 basal or nearly so, narrowly lanceolate to more
or less linear, (5–)10–20(–30) mm wide, about half as long as spike,
upper 1–2 leaves cauline and sheathing for at least half their length,
sometimes entirely, often imbricate. Flowers with tube 35–45 mm
long, dorsal tepal (35–)40–50 mm long. Filaments 25–30 mm long,
exserted 15–20 mm from tube.
It grows in grassland, light woodland and bush between
870 and 1600 m and is fairly widespread in Ethiopia. It is
also common throughout tropical and in southern Africa.
The main flowering period in Ethiopia is from May to
September; some times also from January to February.