DN FEATURES Compiled by Damayanthi Hewamanna GGllaaddiioolluuss the sword flower

ladiolus from enclosed in a sheath. hybrid large flowering Latin is the The lowest leaf is short- sorts of gladiolas can be G diminutive of ened to a cataphyll. The pollinated by small well- gladius, a sword and is a leaf blades can be plane known wasps. Actually, genus of perennial bul- or cruciform in cross sec- They are not very good bous flowering plants in tion. pollinators because of the iris family (Irida- The fragrant flower the large flowers of the ceous). Sometimes spikes are large and one- plants and the small size called the sword lily, the sided, with secund, of the wasps. most widely-used bisexual flowers, each Another insect in this A colourful bunch of Gladiolus English common name subtended by 2 leathery, zone which can try some Yellow Gladiolus for these plants is simply green bracts. The sepals of the nectar of the glad- gladiolus sometimes and the petals are almost ioli is the best-known called the gladiolas. identical in appearance, European Hawk-moth The genus is dis- and are termed tepals. Macroglossum stel- tributed in Mediter- They are united at their latarum which usually ranean Europe, Asia, base into a tube-shaped pollinates many famous Tropical Africa and structure. The dorsal garden flowers like Petu- South Africa. However, tepal is the largest, arch- nia, Zinnia, Dianthus the center of diversity of ing over the three sta- and others. Gladioli are the genus is located in mens. The outer three used as food plants by the Cape Floristic tepals are narrower. the larvae of some Lepi- Region, where most doptera species includ- species were discovered. Kingdom: Plantae ing the Large Yellow As a matter of fact, 163 (unranked): Angiosperms Underwing. out of the 250 species of Gladioli have been (unranked): Monocots Gladiolus are from extensively hybridized Southern Africa. The Order: Asparagales and a wide range of orna- genera Oenostachys, Family: Iridaceae mental flower colours Homoglossum, Anoma- Subfamily: Ixioideae are available from the lesia and Acidanthera, many varieties. The traditionally considered Tribe: Ixieae main hybrid groups have independent entities, Genus: Gladiolus been obtained by cross- currently are included in ing between four or five Gladiolus. The perianth is funnel- species, followed by The genus Gladiolus shaped, with the sta- selection, Grandiflorus, contains about 260 mens attached to its Primulines and Nanus. species, of which 250 are base. The style has three They make very good Pink Gladiolus native to sub-Saharan filiform, spoon-shaped cut flowers. However, Africa, mostly South branches, each expand- due to their height, the White Gladiolus Africa. About 10 species ing towards the apex. cultivated forms fre- are native to Eurasia. The ovary is 3-locular quently tend to fall over There are 160 species of with oblong or globose in the wind if left on the Gladiolus endemic in capsules, containing plant. southern Africa and 76 many, winged brown, In temperate zones, in tropical Africa. The longitudinally dehiscent the corms of most species vary from very seeds. species and hybrids small to the spectacular In their center must be should be lifted in giant flower spikes in noticeable the specific autumn and stored over commerce. pellet like structure winter in a frost-free These attractive, which is the real seed place, then replanted in perennial herbs are semi- without the fine coat. In spring. Some species hardy in temperate cli- some seeds this struc- from Europe and high mates. They grow from ture is wrinkled and with altitudes in Africa, as rounded, symmetrical black color. These seeds well as the small ‘Nanus’ corms that are enveloped are unable to germinate. hybrids, are much in several layers of The South African hardier (to at least - brownish, fibrous tunics. species were originally 15øF/-26øC) and can be These flowers are vari- pollinated by long- left in the ground in ously colored, pink to tongued anthrophorine regions with sufficiently reddish or light purple bees, but some changes dry winters. with white, contrasting in the pollination system Plants are propagated markings, or white to have occurred, allowing either from small corm- cream or orange to red. pollination by sunbirds, lets produced as offsets Their stems are gener- noctuid and sphingid by the parent corms, or ally unbranched, produc- moths, long-tongued from seed; in either case, ing one to nine narrow, flies and several others. they take several years to sword-shaped, longitudi- In the temperate zones get to flowering size. Red and white Gladiolus nal grooved leaves, of Europe many of the Source: Wikipedia Purple Gladiolus World’s smallest crocodiles brought to Sri Lanka Tommy and Gilly need homes Fifteen Albino baby snakes hatch DEMI HEWAMANNA of a dwarf caiman, probably reside in permanent ponds ing is mainly done in or a result of occupying a sim- in swamps and areas of near the water, though in The Dehiwela Zoological ilar ecological niche. The slight current of rain forest areas with substantial Gardens welcome three of dentition consists of four rivers, though reports exist ground cover, they may the world’s smallest premaxillary teeth, 12 to 13 of dwarf crocodiles in iso- expand their feeding pat- crocodiles, better known as on the maxilla and 14 to 15 lated pools in the savannah, tern to land in extensive Dwarf Crocodiles from the on the dentary bone. where burrows are dug to forays, especially following Leipzig Zoo in Germany Habitat aestivate during the dry rains. under the Animal Exchange Dwarf crocodiles range season. The Congo Basin sub- Program. across tropical lowland species demonstrates sea- The Dwarf crocodile regions of sub-Saharan Behaviour sonality in its dietary (Osteolaemus tetraspis) West Africa and West Cen- The dwarf crocodile is a regime, feeding on fish dur- also known as Kuru Kimbu- tral Africa. The subspecies slow, timid and mainly noc- ing the wet season’s floods. la in Sri Lanka, is an tetraspis is found mainly in turnal reptile. As with all When faced with the African species of the westerly reaches of this crocodilians, it is an adept scarceness of food during crocodile. It is also the range while Osborni is predator of vertebrates, the dry season, individuals smallest extant crocodile restricted to the Democrat- large invertebrates such as turn to crustaceans and species in the world. Recent ic Republic of Congo’s rain crustaceans and when pre- food intake is generally sampling has identified forest. sented with the opportuni- reduced. three genetically distinct Osteolaemus individuals ty, also eats carrion. Forag- True to its solitary, noc- populations. turnal nature, a dwarf The Dwarf crocodiles crocodile digs out a burrow attain a medium adult to hide in and rest during length of 1.5 meters (5 the day, which can some- feet), though the maximum times have a submerged recorded length for this entrance. species is 1.9 meters (6.2 An individual lacking the feet). Adults are a uniform right conditions to do so black on their backs and usually abides between tree sides with a yellowish roots that hang over the underside with black patch- ponds in which it lives. In es. Juveniles have a lighter Lovely to look but deadly to touch exchange for these small brown banding on body and crocodiles, Sri Lanka gave tails and yellow patterns on two of the country’s Giant the head. Squirrels. As a result of its small The Zoo also welcomed size and heightened vulner- 15 new Albino baby snakes ability to predation, this as out of the 16 eggs that species of crocodile have a the white Cobra laid, 15 of heavily armoured neck, them hatched last week. So back and tail and also has to everyone who loves osteoderms on its belly and snakes as well as underside of neck. crocodiles or any type of Osteolaemus has a blunt reptile, well what you wait- short snout, as long as it is ing for...go ahead and Nari Latha (Hebaneria Crinifera) is a rare ground Orchid wide, similar in fact to that The Dwarf crocodiles check them out! Tommy and Gilly are loving and affectionate dogs who need since the flowers somewhat resemble the human female caring homes. Tommy the brown colour dog was abandoned figure. There are ten species of this genus that occur in the by his owners because he is going blind while Gilly’s owners island. Here a bloomed Nari Latha at a garden in the have gone abroad leaving him behind. Please call Gothatuwa Estate at Baddegama. Somadasa Abeywickrama, 0777585998 if you would like to give either of them a home Baddegama Group Correspondent.

Please send in your contributions to [email protected] or [email protected]

The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., at No. 35, D.R.Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10 The proud parents. Pix by Suranjith Perera, Dehiwela, Mount The 15 Albino baby snakes Lavinia Corr =