Gladiolus rogersii Baker

Between the months of September and October, the Riversdale bluebell is in flower (2), and the weak scent of the blooms attract bees, which carry out pollination. The shape of the flower readily accommodates the head and thorax of the bee, and as it climbs into the flower in search of a sip of nectar, it receives a dusting of pollen (6).

Within the Cape Floristic Region there are a number of protected areas (9), and a number of conservation organisations are working to conserve this botanically rich habitat. Conservation actions include purchasing land to protect it from the threats of encroaching agriculture and urban development (10), the removal of alien plants, and the establishment of new protected areas (7), measures which should hopefully protect the rare variety of the Riversdale bluebell from becoming seriously threatened.

Scientifically named after Reverend Moyle Rogers, who first collected the species (4), the Riversdale bluebell bears pretty bell-shaped flowers at certain times of the year. The faintly fragrant flowers are shades of blue and purple, with yellow or white markings on the lower petals (2), and measure up to 35 millimetres long (4). The leathery leaves of the Riversdale bluebell are almost needle-like, and underground, food for the plant is stored in a swollen stem base (2) (5).

The Riversdale bluebell inhabits sandstone and limestone slopes, up to 1,000 metres above sea level (2)

Endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, an area in south-western South Africa which is home to the highest density of plant species in the world. The Riversdale bluebell is distributed from Pearly Beach, east to Humansdorp (2).

Variety Gladiolus rogersii var. vlokii is classified as Rare on the Red Data List of Southern African Plants (3).

The Riversdale bluebell species is not yet known to be threatened, but the variety G. r. vlokii is classified as Rare, meaning that the population is so small an unexpected threat could cause a critical decline (3). It is known that urban expansion, the encroachment of agriculture, and the invasion of alien plant species pose a threat to the habitat of the Cape Floristic Region (7) (8), the area to which this variety is confined.

Gladiolus rogersii là một loài thực vật có hoa trong họ Diên vĩ. Loài này được Baker mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1892.