Looking for Gladiolus callianthus murielae (Abyssinian Sword-Lily)

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by Ross Arbo, Feb 14, 2022.

  1. Ross Arbo

    Ross Arbo New Member

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    I was visiting Gibsons (Sunshine Coast) last summer and noticed some very fragrant flowers in the city owned planters downtown. A quick google search confirmed these flowers are called Gladiolus callianthus murielae, or Abyssinian Sword-Lily.
    Does anyone know where to find these bulbs locally (Metro Vancouver area)? I'd love to get a few into my own garden.
     
  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Try any garden center that carries a full line of spring planted bulbs - I have even seen this item at Cost Co in the past. Otherwise, regarding the naming

    The species was first described as Acidanthera bicolor by Christian Hochstetter in 1844. In 1973, Wessel Marais included the genus Acidanthera in Gladiolus. As the name Gladiolus bicolor had already been published by John Gilbert Baker in 1877 for a different species of Gladiolus, Marais needed another name. He chose to call the species Gladiolus callianthus. Marais was apparently unaware that James Kelway had already published the name Gladiolus murielae in 1932, so that the name "G. callianthus" was superfluous. The epithet murielae honours Muriel Erskine; her husband had collected in Ethiopia the specimen on which Kelway based the name.[2]

    Gladiolus murielae - Wikipedia
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2022
  3. Ross Arbo

    Ross Arbo New Member

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    Thanks @Ron B I've already got a call into Mandeville, never thought of looking at Costco as I didn't know they carried bulbs. If anyone finds any locally let me know.
     

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