About Gladiolus watsonioides Baker
Gladiolus watsonioides Baker, also commonly called Mackinder's gladiolus, is a medium to tall herbaceous geophyte that typically grows 0.5 to 1 meter tall. It produces sword-shaped leaves that are flattened parallel to the stem axis, and bears spikes of curved, funnel-shaped red flowers that are slightly bilaterally symmetrical. While this species stores nutrients in underground structures, its green foliage is visible year-round thanks to the consistent local climate it naturally grows in, which has warm days paired with cold or frosty nights throughout the year. This gladiolus species is restricted to highland regions in central Kenya and northern Tanzania. In Kenya, it has been recorded in Nakuru County, Fort Hall and Nyeri Districts, including the Mount Kenya area. In Tanzania, it only occurs in Arusha and Mbulu Districts, covering the Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and Mount Hanang areas. It grows on mountain slopes located above the forest zone, growing in Erica arborea shrub zone, lava rubble, and open glades within juniper forest, at altitudes ranging from 2000 to 4200 meters above sea level. In cultivation, Gladiolus watsonioides grows well when planted in deep pots filled with gritty, humus-rich compost and kept in a frost-free greenhouse.
