Gladiolus carmineus C.H.Wright

Plants (160-)300-500 mm high, with cataphylls dark purple mottled with cream-coloured or green. Corm globose, 20-25 mm diam.; tunics membranous layers becoming fibrous, extending upward in collar around base. Stem erect, flexed outward above sheaths of 2 upper leaves, unbranched. Leaves 3 to 5, all cauline, lowermost with vestigial lanceolate blade shorter than sheath, up to 50 mm long, upper leaves smaller, usually bladeless; non-flowering plants usually with 2 long, trailing, falcate leaves, these dry and decaying at flowering, 8-10 mm wide, glaucous, main vein lightly thickened. Spike erect, flexuose, 2-to 6-flowered; bracts pale green or flushed grey, outer 30-40 mm long, inner shorter. Flowers pale to deep pink, lower 3 tepals each with a median whitish streak surrounded by a pale mauve halo, occasionally upper lateral tepals similarly marked, unscented; perianth tube 30-35 mm long, narrowly funnel-shaped; tepals broadly lanceolate, outer 3 larger and ± as long, dorsal 35-45 x 18-27 mm, upper laterals and lower median 33-48 x 16-28 mm, lower 3 tepals joined to upper laterals for up to 4 mm, spreading ± horizontally. Filaments 21-26 mm long, exserted 10-15 mm from tube; anthers 10-14 mm long, usually yellow; pollen cream-coloured. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite lower half of anthers, branches ± 10 mm long. Capsules narrowly obovoid, 20-22 mm long. Seeds ovate, 8 x 6-7 mm, broadly and evenly winged.