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Why is this iris called stinking gladwyn?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

October 24, 2003

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Shop the National Geographic Store—>Click here.

www.Garden-Gadget.com—>Click here.

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Wollemi Pine, greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century—>Click here.

Eye of the Tiger Dutch Iris, Discovery Dutch Iris, Mahogany Iris Mixture—>Click here.

Katharine Hodgkin Iris, English Iris Mixture, Beauty Dutch Iris Mix—>Click here.

Stinking gladwyn or gladdon (Iris foetidissima Linnaeus) is native to Europe and North Africa. The common English name derives from two characteristics of the plant's leaves. John Gerard described the plant, "...Gladdon hath long narrow leaves...of a darke green colour...."

Advertisement
Iris Foetidissima (Stinking Iris)

Gerard stated the most famous characteristic of the
iris's leaves, "...being rubbed, of a stinking smell
very lothsome." (The Herbal, 1633 edition)
Iris Foetidissima (Stinking Iris)
Photographic Print
 by  Mark Bolton
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

Gladwyn or gladdon part of the common name has nothing to do with the English word, glad. Gladwyn was named for the shape of the leaves deriving from the Latin, gladius, or sword. (Century Unabridged Dictionary, 1889)

Gerard wrote of the flowers, "...like the Floure de-luce, of an over-worne blew colour, or rather purple, with some yellow and red streakes in the midst. After the floures be vaded (faded) there come great huskes or cods, wherein is contained a red berry or seed....The stinking Gladdon floureth in August, the seed whereof is ripe in September."

Stinking gladwyn leaves remain green through the winter; a nice addition to a garden where winters are long and cold. Gerard mentioned, "Gladdon groweth in many gardens [and] I have seene it wilde...in woods and shadowie places neere the sea." Gerard, of course, stated the most famous characteristic of the iris's leaves, "...being rubbed, of a stinking smell very lothsome." (The Herbal, 1633 edition)


Turning Earth has great photographs of the flower and seed capsules of stinking gladwyn. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.turning-earth.co.uk/photos/picpage_iris_foetid.htm

 

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

 

Suggested Reading:

How do alligators benefit prairie iris? Renfield's Garden - March 31, 2004
Prairie Iris (Iris hexagona) Plant of the Week - March 29, 2004
Walking Iris (Neomarica longifolia) Plant of the Week - May 26, 2003
How does this iris walk? Weird Plants - August 23, 2001
Who was the goddess of the rainbow? What's in a Name? - September 27, 2002
Miss Willmott's ghost What's in a Name? - March 7, 2003
What is orris root? Herbal Folklore - September 23, 2002

Killer Savings Links:

Breck's Bulbs -$25 off—>Click here.

Gurney's Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.

Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.

Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.

Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.

 

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