What is gladiolus illyricus?

Gladiolus illyricus is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula, including Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia. It grows in rocky and stony habitats, meadows, and forests at altitudes of up to 2000 meters.

Gladiolus illyricus has grass-like leaves up to 60 centimeters long and produces tall spikes of brightly colored flowers in shades of pink, purple, or red. The flowers have six petals and a central spike of stamens and pistils. It blooms in the summer, typically from June to August.

Gladiolus illyricus is cultivated as an ornamental plant and is popular in rock gardens and flower arrangements. It requires full sun and well-drained soil. The plant has been used medicinally in traditional herbal medicine to treat a range of ailments, including fever, diarrhea, and respiratory infections. However, little scientific research has been done on the properties of Gladiolus illyricus.