I did a little research on google books, they've archived hundreds of thousands of books. It seems Gladiola is used most often in literature as a woman's name, but seldom used for the plant. It could be based on the plant, just as Iris, Lily, and Hyacinth are used as lady's names. Interestingly, 'Gladiola' is in my phone's spell check, and is suggested alongside 'Gladioli'. (My Windows phone has the correct spelling of names as well as words, and strangely a more comprehensive word database than my desktop!) Travis Owen Rogue River, OR amateuranthecologist.blogspot.com http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/