Family: iris family (Iridaceae)
Flowering time: May–June
Size: 30–50 cm
Habitat: open, dry and damp meadows
The two-ranked inflorescence of the Illyrian gladiolus (Gladiolus illyricus) forms 3–20 six-petaled scarlet flowers. Its teardrop-shaped flowers are bilaterally symmetrical. From the shape of the leaves, which resemble a sword, the species received its scientific name, as gladiators wielded a sword called gladius. The Illyrian gladiolus is a resident of unfertilized meadows; its existence is threatened by changes in the habitat in which it lives. In Slovenia it mainly occurs in Notranjska and the Kras.
In Slovenia the Illyrian gladiolus is listed on the list of endangered plant species, in addition it is also protected and therefore it is not allowed to collect, damage, or remove it from its natural habitats.
