To grow an exotic plant in your greenhouse, you need to find the secrets of its contents. Gardeners respect beautiful flowers. The subtleties of keeping most plant species are the same. Any living creature requires individual fulfillment of conditions. In this collection, the authors tried to present many conditions in order to prevent death during the cultivation of a rare flower. It would be correct to determine for yourself which group your plant belongs to.
Gladiolus - small sword
Legends about gladiolus "Oh, ancient Rome! Tell us the legend about Gladiolus, the flower of all Gladiators..."
Gladiolus is a sword flower, also the king of victory, a magnificent duelist. Among the Romans, it was considered the flower of gladiators. The name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius - "sword". Translated from Latin, gladiolus also means “small sword.” IN Ancient Greece gladiolus was called xythion, which also meant “sword”. This name is due to the fact that this plant has straight sword-shaped leaves reaching a length of 80 cm... (see "Garden Gladiolus")
Traditionally, gladiolus is a masculine flower, reminiscent of chivalry, the true “King of Victory”; believe that this is what the first sounded like German name gladiolus.
These flowers are rarely given to women, especially young girls; they look good in bouquets intended for business partners, winners and award winners. But still, many women adore these flowers and gladly accept them as a gift (see “The Language of Flowers”).
Many curious citizens came to the military spectacle. When the trumpets sounded, calling the brave to battle, then, refusing to fight for the amusement of the Romans, Sevt and Teres stuck their swords into the ground and rushed to each other with open arms, ready to accept death. The crowd roared indignantly. The trumpets sounded again, demanding a duel, but the warriors did not satisfy the expectations of the bloodthirsty Romans. They were put to death. As soon as the bodies of the defeated touched the ground, their swords took root and blossomed, turning into tall, beautiful flowers. In honor of the noble gladiators they were called gladioli. And to this day they are a symbol of friendship, loyalty, nobility and memory.
And in South Africa they tell a different story about the origin of gladioli. In former times, wars were commonplace, and one day enemies descended on a small village, hoping to take their opponents by surprise. They captured many, but the elder managed to escape, having previously hidden the main values of the community from the invaders. The elder's beautiful daughter was tortured for a long time to find out where her father was hiding, but she did not say a word to her enemies. Then they decided to execute her in front of all her fellow countrymen, but at that moment, when the sword was supposed to touch the girl’s neck, the gods turned it into a beautiful flower with purple-red buds. Seeing this miracle, the invaders realized that the gods were condemning them, and hastily left this village, saving the life of the brave girl.
There is another beautiful legend about the strong love of a prince and a beautiful girl. Once upon a time there lived a prince on earth and his name was Iolus. In his kingdom, the people lived in contentment and joy, because Iolus was a kind and fair ruler. Only the young prince was often sad that he could not find his beloved in his kingdom, although he traveled from end to end. And then Iolus went to the Magician to find out where his love lived. He told him that in the neighboring kingdom, in the dungeon of an evil wizard, a beautiful girl named Glad was languishing, whom he was going to marry. And she would rather die than marry an old, evil wizard.
That same day, Iolus went in search of his beloved. He came to the castle of the Evil Wizard with a request to teach him magic and was accepted. But for this, the prince had to serve the Evil Wizard and restore order in his castle. One day, when the Evil Wizard was not in the castle, Iolus opened the door of the treasured room and saw in it a girl of unprecedented beauty. They looked at each other and immediately fell in love. Hand in hand, they ran away from the castle. Glad and Iolus were already far away when the Evil Wizard overtook them. And he turned them into a flower, which he placed in his garden. The long stem of the flower resembles a slender Iolus, and the beautiful delicate buds resemble Glad. Later, people named the flower “Gladiolus”, in honor of the strong love of two hearts that died but did not want to part.
The history of gladiolus dates back to ancient times; references to it are found in the works of ancient Roman thinkers. Shamans and healers prescribed magical properties to this flower. An ancient Roman legend says that if you hang the roots of a gladiolus on your chest like amulets, they will not only protect you from death, but will also help you win a fight. In medieval Europe, landsknechts wore gladioli corms as amulets, as they believed that they made them invincible and protected them from injury. It was believed that the magical power of corms lies in the mesh “armor” - the rib of dead covering leaves.
Before its cultivation, gladiolus was not an ornamental plant. During Theophrastus's time, around 300 BC, it was considered a troublesome weed of grain crops, but its ground bulbs could be baked into flat cakes with the addition of flour. In the XVII and XVIII centuries healers attributed to gladioli medicinal properties. Corms were recommended to be added to milk for infants and used against toothache. Currently found in gladioli a large number of vitamin C. Petals of black and red gladioli are included in some medicinal preparations that increase human immunity.
Gladiolus first gained popularity only in the 18th century, when South African species of these flowers, which were distinguished by greater brightness and beauty, were brought to Europe. And when in 1902 an English engineer brought home an elegant creamy-yellow flower found at a waterfall near the Zambezi River, gladiolus literally became widespread throughout the world in just a few years. The flowers were so spectacular that they immediately won the love of European flower growers. In 1837 The Belgian gardener G. Bedzinghaus developed the so-called “Ghent gladiolus” (G. gapdavepsis), from which the history of modern gladioli began. In the year of Halley's Comet (1910), the Halley variety appeared on Dutch markets and was a huge success. For several corms of this variety they paid up to 4 thousand guilders. To date, almost 70,000 varieties of gladiolus are known, and about a hundred new ones are registered in international lists every year!
In the 50-60s of the last century, gladiolus was on the crest of a wave of popularity in such a flower country as Holland. At this time, Dutch breeders developed many new varieties. Some of them have proven themselves very well in terms of the sum of their characteristics and are still popular (for example, Oscar, Red Ginger and others). Gladioli are widespread in England and their popularity in this country is stable. It was in this country that the first society of gladioli growers in history was created. Now gladiolus is one of the five most common cut crops in the world.
Legends about flowersLegends and myths about plants - Gladiolus
The Tale of Gladiolus by Anna Saxe:
When Teres woke up in the morning and told his friend his dream, Sevt had nothing to add, because they both saw the same dreams. Teres dreamed that he, dressed as a warrior, entered the arena, and Sevt stood against him with a sword in his hand. They look at each other in confusion, and the crowd roars for the gladiators to begin the fight. No one has the strength to raise a sword against a fellow sufferer, and then a beautiful Roman woman hurries to Teres and says: “Cut him so that you are a winner, then you will receive freedom and my love!” He swings his sword, but at that moment a voice is heard from underground: “Listen to what your heart tells you!”
In the evening, when friends were returning from classes, they met two girls. These were Barbagalo's daughters, Octavia and Leocardia. When Octavia's gaze touched Teres's eyes, it seemed to him as if lightning had pierced him and pinned him to the ground. He stood petrified and looked at the beauty, not noticing that Sevt and Leocardia were looking at each other in the same way. Love is not only blind, it is usually also wise and knows how to find ways so that lovers can meet even when there is such an abyss between them, like between a winner and a slave. For a long time Barbagalo did not know that his daughters were secretly meeting with gladiators, until Octavia herself once confessed to him her reckless love for Teres, and soon Leocardia came with exactly the same declaration of love for Sevtus.
Barbagalo, knowing the stubborn nature of his daughters, did not imprison them in a castle and did not prohibit short visits with their lovers. He informed them that at the next gladiator fights, Teres and Sevtus would enter the arena against each other, and whoever became the winner would receive freedom. The sly man hoped that both strongmen would fight tooth and nail, so that not one would survive, and the result would be an unprecedented spectacle.
The day of gladiatorial combat has arrived. There was no free seat in the amphitheater, and in the first row near the arena itself sat Barbagalo with both daughters, Octavia and Leocardia. When Teres and Sevt entered the arena, dressed in the military costumes of the Thracians, and flashing their raised swords, they exclaimed, “Those doomed to death salute you!” - The crowd roared with delight. Octavia looked at Teresa encouragingly, and Leocardia nodded her head to Sevta and, pointing at Teresa, turned her clenched palm with her thumb down. The gladiators took up a fighting position and raised their swords. The audience froze, and the hearts of the two girls - two sisters - stopped for a moment.
Death to them! Octavia jumped to her feet and exclaimed: “Teres, fight for our happiness!” With exactly the same words, Leocardia addressed Sevtus. Then Teres, waving his sword, silenced the spectators and, proudly raising his head, said:
Having said this, he stuck his sword into the ground, and Sevt did the same. The merciless crowd of spectators felt deceived.
Of death! Of death! We demand death! - everyone shouted. Barbagalo gave his soldiers a sign to kill the gladiators. When the bodies of Teres and Sevt were taken from the arena, a miracle happened: the swords stuck in the ground suddenly turned green, buds appeared on them and flowers bloomed.
Anna Saxe. Gladiolus
(from the book "Tales of Flowers")
Among the captured Thracians, the Roman commander Barbagalo chose the strongest young men Teres and Sevtus, ordering the rest to be killed. He took these two handsome men to Rome and sent them to a gladiator school. Longing for their homeland, pain over lost freedom, humiliation from the position of slaves tormented the young Thracians, and they asked their gods for only one thing - that death would come to them as soon as possible. But the gods were merciless to them. Days passed, and the young men woke up every morning alive and well, took their swords and went to training.
“Perhaps the gods have other intentions for us,” Teres spoke quietly to Sevt one day. - Maybe they want us to learn how to use swords and avenge the dishonor of our people?
If the gods couldn't protect our people, what can we? - Sevt sighed bitterly.
Let’s ask the goddess of dreams, let her predict what awaits us in the future,” Teres suggested, and Sevt agreed with him.
When Teres woke up in the morning and told his friend his dream, Sevt had nothing to add, because they both saw the same dreams.
Teres dreamed that he, dressed as a warrior, entered the arena, and Sevt stood against him with a sword in his hand. They look at each other in confusion, and the crowd roars for the gladiators to begin the fight. No one has the strength to raise a sword against a fellow sufferer, and then a beautiful Roman woman hurries to Teres and says: “Cut him so that you are a winner, then you will receive freedom and my love!” He swings his sword, but at that moment a voice is heard from underground: “Listen to what your heart tells you!”
You had my dream! - Sevt exclaimed in surprise.
In the evening, when friends were returning from classes, they met two girls. These were Barbagalo's daughters, Octavia and Leocardia. When Octavia's gaze touched Teres's eyes, it seemed to him as if lightning had pierced him and pinned him to the ground. He stood petrified and looked at the beauty, not noticing that Sevt and Leocardia were looking at each other in the same way.
Love is not only blind, it is usually also wise and knows how to find ways so that lovers can meet even when there is such an abyss between them, like between a winner and a slave. For a long time, Barbagalo did not know that his daughters were secretly meeting with gladiators, until Octavia herself once confessed to him her reckless love for Teres, and soon Leocardia came with exactly the same declaration of love for Sevtus.
Barbagalo, knowing the stubborn nature of his daughters, did not imprison them in a castle and did not prohibit short visits with their lovers. He informed them that at the next gladiator fights, Teres and Sevtus would enter the arena against each other, and whoever became the winner would receive freedom. The sly man hoped that both strongmen would fight tooth and nail, so that neither would survive, and the result would be an unprecedented spectacle.
Soon Barbagalo's hopes began to come true. Octavia urged Teres to get victory at any cost, because it would give him freedom, and Leocardia repeated the same to Sevta. The sisters hated each other because each fought for her own happiness, but the happiness of one meant the misfortune of the other. And the friends’ swords now rang sharper and more mercilessly, as if they were already thirsty for warm blood.
The day of gladiatorial combat has arrived. There was no free seat in the amphitheater, and in the first row near the arena itself sat Barbagalo with both daughters, Octavia and Leocardia.
When Teres and Sevt entered the arena, dressed in the military costumes of the Thracians, and flashing their raised swords, they exclaimed, “Those doomed to death salute you!” - The crowd roared with delight.
Octavia looked at Teresa encouragingly, and Leocardia nodded her head to Sevta and, pointing at Teresa, turned her clenched palm with her thumb down.
The gladiators took up a fighting position and raised their swords. The audience froze, and the hearts of the two girls - two sisters - stopped for a moment.
But at that moment, when the raised hand of Teres was preparing to pierce the chest of Sevt with a sword, he heard the voice of his heart, which said:
Thracian Teres, what will you answer to your motherland if you become the murderer of her son?
Sevt’s heart asked the same question, and they rushed to each other and embraced.
The crowd was outraged and shouted:
Death to them!
Octavia jumped to her feet and exclaimed: “Teres, fight for our happiness!”
With exactly the same words, Leocardia addressed Sevtus.
Then Teres, waving his sword, silenced the spectators and, proudly raising his head, said:
You turned out to be stronger than us and we became prisoners, but you will not be able to turn us into villains. You can kill us, but you cannot defeat us!
Barbagalo gave his soldiers a sign to kill the gladiators. When the bodies of Teres and Sevt were taken from the arena, a miracle happened: the swords stuck in the ground suddenly turned green, buds appeared on them and flowers bloomed.
These flowers were called gladioli.
Gladiolus. Stories and legends
prepared by Ekaterina Ziborova
The botanical name of gladiolus is swordweed; its stem is indeed similar to a sword blade, and the scarlet inflorescences of some varieties resemble droplets of blood. The very name “gladiolus” is a Latin word (Gladius). An ancient Roman legend states: if you hang gladiolus bulbs on your chest as an amulet, they will not only help you win a fight, but will also protect you from death.
Among the Romans, gladiolus was considered the flower of gladiators. According to legend, a cruel Roman commander captured Thracian warriors and ordered them to be turned into gladiators, and the commander ordered the most beautiful, brave, dexterous and loyal friends Sevtus and Teres to be the first to fight each other, promising that the winner would receive the hand of his daughter and be released to freedom. Many curious townspeople came to see this spectacle. However, they did not see what they wanted: when the trumpets sounded, calling the brave warriors to battle, Sevt and Teres stuck their swords into the ground and rushed to each other with open arms.
The crowd roared indignantly. The trumpets sounded again, demanding a duel, and when the warriors again did not satisfy the expectations of the bloodthirsty Romans, they were put to death.
But as soon as the bodies of the defeated touched the ground, blooming gladioli grew from the hilts of their swords, which to this day are considered a symbol of friendship, loyalty, memory and nobility.
During the time of Theophrastus, the author of numerous works on plants, gladioli bulbs were baked in dough and eaten. Onions were added to the crushed corms and cakes were baked. And Pliny the Elder reported that in his time the roots of gladioli were used in medicine.
In Europe, medieval landsknechts, as in Ancient Rome, wore gladioli corms on their chests as amulets, as there was a belief that they had mysterious powers that made a person invincible and protected from injury. It was believed that the magical power of corms lies in the mesh “armor” - the nervation of dead covering leaves.
In the XVII - XVIII centuries. recognition of the gladiolus as a miraculous talisman is replaced by recognition of it as a carrier of healing properties. Thus, some types of gladiolus were used as a milk extract for women, others - for toothache.
Many poetic legends and tales have been written about this beloved plant. "Prince Gladius", slender, in his ceremonial clothes, with an august bearing, has long captivated the flower growers of Russia.
Currently, gladiolus is one of the five most common cut flower crops in the world.
Ekaterina Ziborova
All about gladiolus on the website Gardenia.ru
The gladiolus plant, beloved by many gardeners (see photo), has existed for several millennia. Over the entire period of its existence, the flower has transformed, and the range of varieties and varieties has expanded. Today gladioli are grown as ornamental plant– for decorating areas, creating beautiful and festive bouquets and other needs. But humanity has not always treated gladiolus as an ornament. Consider 10 interesting facts about this amazing flower.
Gladiolus as a weed.
The ancient Greeks would have been very surprised to learn how popular gladioli are today. In the old days, about 300 BC, people were annoyed by this flower. Gladiolus was then considered weed, which most often sprouted in fields with wheat and other grains. Therefore, gladioli were pulled out along with the corm and burned to prevent spread.
Gladiolus as a healing flower.
In the Middle Ages, humanity changed its attitude towards this plant. In those days, the flower had already begun to be cultivated; in the gardens of noble and wealthy people one could find entire collections of gladioli with different color options. But the main use of the plant was still ethnoscience. According to surviving information, in the Middle Ages, a decoction of gladiolus flowers was used for toothache and to improve lactation.
There are more than 70,000 different varieties of gladioli.
In the mid-to-late 20th century, the popularity of gladioli began to peak. Along with the development of science, floriculture also developed. Therefore, today about 70 thousand different varieties of gladiolus bred in different countries Oh. Of course, not all of them are grown today. Only a third of the varieties are considered popular, the rest can only be found in private collections, and not in all countries.
Gladiolus as a delicacy.
Today no one would think of frying or baking gladiolus corms, but in the old days they were a favorite delicacy. Previously, this flower grew wild, and in order to collect the bulbs, it was not necessary to grow it for years, propagate, care for, or water it. People simply collected the tubers, peeled them and cooked them - baked them in dough, fried them, pickled them. Nutritional value gladiolus bulbs are quite high, but as far as taste is concerned, it is difficult to say, since this ingredient is not used in cooking today.
Breeding changes.
Initially, there were no such beautiful gladioli as we are used to seeing them today. The flowers were small, the inflorescences were not slender, not to mention the small number of colors. But, since the beginning of the 17th century, when flower growers and breeders began to be interested in gladioli, the appearance of gladioli has changed greatly. The very first variety with large flowers and slender inflorescences was created by Hermann Joseph Beddinghausem. His initiative was taken up by other scientists, and so new varieties began to appear year after year. The first variety with traditional corrugation was bred in 1841 by the then famous breeder Louis van Hutt.
Gladiolus as a flower-amulet.
Today you probably won’t meet a person wearing a necklace of dried gladiolus corms around his neck. But in the old days, many people did this. There is a legend that gladiolus was able to protect against evil spirits and other misfortunes. The flower was used for protection by warriors - they took this amulet with them into battle and believed that it could protect them from death. In houses, bulbs and dried inflorescences were hung in front of the entrances so that no misfortune or evil spirits could enter the home and annoy its residents. In the Middle Ages, this flower was called the “irresistible shell”, as it was considered the strongest protection against many problems.
Gladiolus as symbols.
In different cultures, gladioli have their own symbols. But, in all cultures, this flower is associated with courage, strength of character and nobility. Gladiolus is considered a “male” flower. Most often it is used to create bouquets that are presented to winners, champions, and business partners. But many varieties of gladioli can also carry a romantic context, so it is not uncommon for young people to choose bouquets of gladioli to make the most important proposal to their loved ones.
Gladiolus - beauty without scent.
The pop group “Korni” once sang a song mentioning the scent of gladioli, and it became truly prophetic. The fact is that most varieties of gladiolus practically do not emit aroma, and few people can say exactly what they smell like. But, within several years after this song was written, new varieties were developed, known not only for their decorative properties, but also for their pleasant, delicate aroma.
Gladiolus is like a storehouse of vitamins.
No wonder ancient people used gladioli to combat various diseases. Scientists were able to find out that the leafy part of the plant, as well as a little in the stems, contains a huge amount of various vitamins. In particular, the concentration of ascorbic acid in gladiolus leaves is the same as in rose hips, which is used to cleanse the body and strengthen the immune system. Therefore, gladiolus has every right to be considered a medicinal plant.
Gladiolus is a favorite of the British.
In England, gladioli have been considered the most popular flowers for several centuries. They are grown in almost every yard. It is in England that the largest number of collectors live, and many rare varieties are concentrated. To obtain planting material of scarce varieties, flower growers from different countries go to England.
If your child is asked to come up with a fairy tale story, it doesn’t matter! Fantasy and fiction rush to your aid. Creative tasks are more relevant today than ever. The Ministry of Education has introduced another new standard, which both schools and teachers are forced to comply with. Sometimes the assignments are really interesting: the student needs to think and reason, but sometimes there are such “amazing” assignments in the diaries that the parents’ hair stands on end. But don’t despair, get into a working mood and go ahead!
Literary reference
A fairy tale about a wild or cultivated plant will be at your disposal soon. Such texts in literature are called myths or legends. The literary tradition of Japan is rich in such things. You can take the eastern myth about the chrysanthemum as a basis. The Chinese say that if you want to be happy, then a chrysanthemum must certainly grow in your garden.
In Japan, four plants are especially revered and are considered noble: chrysanthemum, sakura, bamboo and orchid. They all symbolize human qualities such as friendship, honesty, youth and courage. And, accordingly, each of these plants symbolizes 4 seasons. There is no point in listing them, everyone already knows. Ancient eastern poets sang these plants in their poems or legends, marveling at their beauty.
Story No. 1 - about Chrysanthemum
Our legend tells of a flower called Chrysanthemum. People of the East call it the White Dragon Flower. One day this evil and bloodthirsty monster decided to bring another misfortune to people. A thought came to his white scaly head: shouldn’t he steal the Sun from these pathetic people? Without it, they will die of fear, horror and hunger!
The White Terrible Dragon miscalculated, because the prey was beyond his strength and teeth! The monster jumped up, flapped its wings, and rose high into the skies. The rays of the Sun burned his scales, and he greedily tore at the body of the luminary with his clawed paws. Hot and luminous sparks scattered in different directions, cooled down, and as they fell they turned into Chrysanthemum flowers. And they covered city streets, village paths, gardens and parks... So the Great Sun gave man this flower, and from then on this beautiful flower began to be depicted, as well as on coins and various seals. Wise Japanese add flowers of this plant to salads and even to confectionery!
Story No. 2 - about Nettle
In one village a Nettle bush grew. No matter who approached her, she stung and burned everyone! People began to avoid her. And she burst into bitter tears out of resentment. The boys said that in a neighboring village an old grandfather had flogged his grandson with such a bush for robbery.
But one day everything changed. A woman herbalist came out of the dense forest and asked the villagers if there was a burning bush growing here? They laughed in response, but pointed in the direction with their hands. The herbalist came to the place, looked around and said: “Oh, how fresh and juicy! Aw, how useful!” The old women came running, their eyes widened, and their teeth were churning with envy! They shout at her: “Don’t meddle, you fool, the nettle will sting you!..” And the herbalist only laughed in response and went into her hut deep into the forest.
If your child was given a fairy tale about a wild or cultivated plant, then you can safely use our legends.
In this report we will look at the origin, history, appearance and growing gladioli.
Origin
Gladiolus or fennel - perennial plant of the iris family. Its name comes from the Latin word "gladius", which means "sword". The shape of the leaves of this plant really resembles swords. Its homeland is considered to be southern Africa, as well as the Mediterranean coast. In addition to these places, it grows wild in Siberia and Madagascar.
Associated with the origin of gladiolus beautiful sad legend. During the war, the Romans captured and captured a detachment of Thracians. Among them were two friends - Sevt and Teres. The commander decided to turn the prisoners into gladiators and forced these friends to fight among themselves first. Each of them refused to fight with their comrade, sticking their swords into the ground. Then the commander ordered the death of Sevtus and Teres. When their dead bodies fell to the ground, instead of swords, two beautiful flowers appeared in the arena.
Appearance
Gladiolus reaches a height of 50 to 150 cm. It has long, straight leaves and a tall inflorescence, on which large funnel-shaped flowers are located. The color and shape of these flowers are very diverse, there are flowers of almost all shades, even green and almost black. Thanks to this, the plant is widely used to decorate gardens and parks, and is also used for cutting and creating bouquets.
This is a corm plant. Under the ground, it forms modified shoots resembling an onion, in which nutrients are stored for the winter. But, unlike the bulb, they are stored not in the scales, but in the shoot itself.
Story
Even before our era, the corms of this plant were eaten, baked or ground into flour. Our ancestors endowed the flower with magical powers. It was called the male plant, the warrior plant. It was believed that an amulet made from a corm should be placed around the neck, then the warrior would avoid death and would definitely return victorious.
In the XVIII gladiolus used in medicine it was believed that he was filming toothache and is a good diuretic.
The flower began to be used in ornamental gardening after South African species were brought to Europe and hybrids were obtained from them. These plants became the ancestors of gladioli, from which many varieties that are used today were developed.
Growing
This flower is not too capricious, but it needs good care. Then it grows beautifully and in middle lane Russia.
- For landing you need to choose an open sunny place, protected from strong winds.
- Such powerful plants need a lot to grow. nutrients, That's why the soil must be well fertilized, otherwise the flowers will be small and the stems weak.
- Plants need to loosen often, removing weeds.
- Watering gladioli should be plentiful, otherwise the plants will not be able to bloom well.
The most difficult thing about growing gladioli is that for the winter, their corms need to be dug up and stored in a cool, dark place, but not in the cold. In this case, only large, healthy specimens are selected. And in the spring, after the soil has warmed up, they need to be replanted in the flowerbed.
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Today I will tell you the legends about the handsome gladiolus. He was revered in ancient Rome.
The name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius - “sword” and literally gladiolus translates as “small sword”. Gladiolus is traditionally considered a masculine flower, a reminder of chivalry. It is not customary to give these flowers to women, especially young girls. A bouquet of gladioli is intended to be presented to business partners, winners and award winners. But nevertheless, women adore this flower and gladly accept it as a gift (for example, my mother really loves these flowers for her birthday - in August we always give her a bouquet of gladioli).
And now legends of gladiolus.
According to ancient Roman legend, gladiolus appeared on earth in the following way. There was a war between the Romans and Thracians. Thracian warriors were captured by a cruel Roman ruler. He gave the order to turn the prisoners into gladiators. Among the captives there were two young men Sevt and Teres; a common misfortune united the young people and they became friends. Wanting to entertain the public, the Roman commander ordered his friends to fight against each other, promising the winner a return to his homeland. But the friends stuck their swords into the ground and hugged each other tightly, ready to accept death. The crowd of spectators roared indignantly. And then they were put to death, and as soon as the blood touched the ground, their swords stuck into the ground took root and blossomed, becoming beautiful tall flowers. In honor of the noble gladiators, they received the name - gladioli. And since then, these flowers have symbolized nobility, loyalty and strong friendship. So sad legend of gladioli.
There is another, beautiful legend.
In ancient times, there lived on earth a beautiful prince named Iolus. In the kingdom that he ruled, the people were happy, since they had a kind and fair ruler. But the prince himself fell into sadness from time to time, and the reason for this was that he did not have a beloved girl. He turned to the good wizard with a request to show where his love lives. The wizard responded to his request and said that the same girl lives in a neighboring kingdom, imprisoned by an evil wizard. Her name was Glad and she had to marry an evil wizard on pain of death. The prince immediately set off to rescue his betrothed from captivity. He arrived at the castle and asked to become an apprentice to the evil wizard. He accepted him and ordered him to serve him and restore order in the castle. One fine day, when the wizard was away from the castle, the Prince opened the door, behind which a girl of unearthly beauty was languishing. They fell in love with each other at first sight and rushed to run away from the castle. But an evil wizard overtook them on the way and turned them into a flower, which he placed in his garden. The long stem of the flower resembles the slender Prince Iolus, and the beautiful delicate flowers resemble the beautiful Glad. And the flower was named Glad Iolus, which began to symbolize the strong love of two hearts.
In ancient times, magicians and shamans endowed gladiolus with magical properties. It was believed that if the roots of a gladiolus were hung on the chest in the form of an amulet, this would protect the owner from death and protect him from wounds and help him win a duel.
An interesting fact is that earlier, around 300 BC. Gladiolus was considered a weed in grain crops. But cakes were baked from its onions mixed with flour.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, healers discovered medicinal properties in gladiolus. The juice of the bulbs was added to the milk of young children to boost immunity; it also helped toothache. Currently, a large amount of vitamin C has been found in gladioli. Petals of black-red gladioli are still used today in medicinal preparations to increase