In the Victorian language of flowers, Gladiolus (aka. Sword Lily; Gladiolus spp.) carried the message of “love-at-first-sight”—an important message to know in a time when etiquette around courtship was so guarded! This comes from the feeling of being pierced in the heart, as the flower has a sword-like shape. Generally, today the Gladiolus symbolism as a cut flower is strength, protection, courage and used for sending signs of love or as a “pick-me-up”.
Interestingly, for the symbolism of Gladiolus, preclinical studies have found extracts of G. dalenii (one of the key species for hybridization) to have an antidepressant-like effect, as well as protect against stress-induced behavioral, neurochemical and reproductive changes. It is also a commonly used medicinal plant in the traditional medicine of Cameroon for headaches, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and mood disorders.
In Boliva, Gladiolus are often used as an offering to the Lake Titicaca on passage to the Island of the Sun—as I am seen here doing on an ethnobotanical excursion early in the millennium.
#ethnobotany #ethnopharm #medicinalplants #gardening #cameroon #bolivia #titicaca