garden flowers like Petunia, Zinnia, Dianthus and others. Gladioli are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Large Yellow Underwing, and gladiolus thrips. Horticulture Gladioli have been extensively hybridized and a wide range of ornamental flower colours are available from the many varieties. The main hybrid groups have been obtained by crossing between four or five species, followed by selection: 'Grandiflorus', 'Primulines' and 'Nanus'. They can make very good cut flowers for display. The majority of the species in this genus are diploid with 30 chromosomes (2n=30) but the Grandiflora hybrids are tetraploid and possess 60 chromosomes (2n=4x=60). This is because the main parental species of these hybrids is Gladiolus dalenii which is also tetraploid and includes a wide range of varieties (like the Grandiflora hybrids). Species The genus Gladiolus contains about 300 species, the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families had over 276 species in 1988, , it accepted 300 species. There are 260 species of Gladiolus endemic to southern Africa, and 76 in tropical Africa. About 10 species are native to Eurasia. The genus Gladiolus has been divided into many sections. Most species, however, are only tentatively placed. Gladiolus abbreviatus Andrews Gladiolus abyssinicus (Brongn. ex Lem.) B.D.Jacks. Gladiolus actinomorphanthus P.A.Duvign. & Van Bockstal Gladiolus acuminatus F.Bolus Gladiolus aequinoctialis Herb. Gladiolus alatus L. (sect. Hebea) Gladiolus albens Goldblatt & J.C.Manning Gladiolus amplifolius Goldblatt Gladiolus anatolicus (Boiss.) Stapf Gladiolus andringitrae Goldblatt Gladiolus angustus L. (sect. Blandus) – long-tubed painted lady Gladiolus antakiensis A.P.Ham. Gladiolus antandroyi Goldblatt Gladiolus appendiculatus G.Lewis Gladiolus aquamontanus Goldblatt & Vlok Gladiolus arcuatus Klatt Gladiolus atropictus Goldblatt & J.C.Manning Gladiolus atropurpureus Baker Gladiolus atroviolaceus Boiss. Gladiolus attilae Kit Tan Gladiolus aurantiacus Klatt Gladiolus aureus Baker – golden gladiolus Gladiolus balensis Goldblatt Gladiolus baumii Harms Gladiolus bellus C. H. Wright Gladiolus benguellensis Baker (sect. Ophiolyza) Gladiolus bilineatus G. J. Lewis Gladiolus blommesteinii L.Bolus Gladiolus bojeri (Baker) Goldblatt Gladiolus bonaespei Goldblatt & M.P.de Vos Gladiolus boranensis Goldblatt Gladiolus brachyphyllus Bolus f. Gladiolus brevifolius Jacq. (sect. Linearifolius) Gladiolus brevitubus G. Lewis Gladiolus buckerveldii (L. Bolus) Goldblatt Gladiolus bullatus Thunb. ex G. Lewis – Caledon bluebell. Gladiolus caeruleus Goldblatt & J.C. Manning Gladiolus calcaratus G. Lewis Gladiolus calcicola Goldblatt Gladiolus canaliculatus Goldblatt Gladiolus candidus (Rendle) Goldblatt Gladiolus cardinalis Curtis (sect. Blandus) Gladiolus carinatus Aiton – occurring in Darling, South Africa, and locally called the "blou pypie" ("blue pipe") Gladiolus carmineus C. H. Wright (sect. Blandus)