Gladiolus
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Gladiolus. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) a genus of Iridaceae, with beautiful spikes of flowers, sword-shaped leaves and corms or bulbous rhizomes. They are propagated by offset corms or from seed; in this way innumerable hybrids have been produced. The hardy European forms are well adapted to the mixed border, wild garden or shrubbery in dry and sunny situations. Among the leading Cape forms are G. cardinalis (red), psittacinus (yellow with purple spots), floribundus (purple and white), etc., and these have given rise to numerous hybrids-e. g. the first two to G. gandavensis, which again stands at the head of series of hybrids and many new varieties. The scarlet G. brenchleyensis is similarly a standard form. The corm of G. communis was formerly officinal; and the Hottentots dig up some of the Cape species for the sake of their starchy corms.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
gla-di'o-lus (Latin, a little sword), a favorite garden flower allied to our blue flag. There are about 170 species, mostly from southern Africa. They are included in the general name of "Cape bulbs." The Hottentots are said to find as considerable an article of food in the bulbs which they collect as our Western Indians do in the camass bulb. As in the case of blue flag, the gladiolus has swordshaped leaves and a flower stalk crowded with showy, irregular flowers. After the flowering season it will be found that the plant has produced a new corm, which must be cared for in winter and reset in the spring. A number of small bulblets are formed about the main bulb. These may be used to advantage to produce new plants. 2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: BR 2026-07-22)