Gladiolus species of the Gauteng grassland

Gladiolus petals and sepals are almost identical, collectively known as tepals. Many moths, wasps, butterflies, birds and other pollinators visit them. Southern Africa has about 160 species of this genus growing here naturally in a variety of habitats.

A question that may be worth considering: How many species will survive over the next hundred or two hundred years? Or put more in a context of our responsibility or possible commitment: How many kinds of flowers will our great-grandchildren be able to enjoy? Thinking about this may change our behaviour and thus increase the number that will be the right answer. Caring for the world we live in becomes more important as our numbers increase; even to the point of caring about the increasing number of people!  And even more interesting: Can new plant species evolve in nature today? Only if enough of natural habitat remains for them to meet their challenges as we meet ours. Our interventions for food production are mainly based on monocultures or boosting single species cultivation at the expense of biodiversity. And our flower gardening activities detract more from species survival than adding to it.

Questions such as these dont require prophets or forecasters. They require decisions, commitment and resolve regarding facts and trends experienced daily. Humanity has the capacity for doing this.