Gladioli grow from round, symmetrical corms that are enveloped in several layers of brownish, fibrous tunics. Their stems are generally unbranched, producing 1 to 9 narrow, sword-shaped, longitudinal grooved leaves, enclosed in a sheath. The lowest leaf is shortened to a cataphyll. The leaf blades can be plane or cruciform in cross section. The flowers of unmodified wild species vary from very small to perhaps 40 mm across, and inflorescences bearing anything from one to several flowers. The spectacular giant flower spikes in commerce are the products of centuries of hybridisation and selection. Gladiolus, , genus of about 300 species of flowering plants of the iris family native to Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean area. Several species are widely cultivated for cut flowers and as garden ornamentals.