Gladiolus guthriei F.Bolus

Plants 400-700 mm high, with cataphylls usually brownish purple, sometimes finely pubescent. Corm globose, 20-35 mm diam.; tunics of coarse vertical fibres, accumulating in a dense mass. Stem erect or inclined, unbranched. Leaves 3(4), sometimes hairy on sheaths, lower 2 ± basal, lowermost with short, rigid, lanceolate blade 20-80 x 3-6 mm, margins moderately and main and often a second vein pair lightly thickened, blades of remaining leaves vestigial or lacking; non-flowering plants with solitary leaf, sword-shaped to lanceolate, 12-20 mm wide, often trailing, sometimes pubescent, margins strongly thickened, main and 2 or more other vein pairs also prominent, juvenile leaves always pubescent. Spike usually lightly inclined, 3-to 9(13)-flowered; bracts dull green to greyish, soft-textured, outer 20-40 mm long, inner shorter. Flowers dull pink to brownish purple, upper laterals and lower 3 tepals dull yellow with broad irregular brownish median streak and lightly speckled with brown, margins lightly crisped, with strong sweet clove-like scent day and night; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 20-27 mm long, lower cylindric part 12-15 mm long, enclosed or exserted from bracts, abruptly curved above into flared part; tepals oblanceolate or dorsal obovate, largest, 22-30 x 14-19 mm, inclined over stamens, upper laterals 20-30 x 10-13 mm, spreading distally, lower 3 tepals joined to upper laterals for 3-5 mm and together for 1-2 mm, free parts 18-25 x 8-11 mm, lower median as long or slightly longer. Filaments 12-16 mm long, exserted 5-7 mm from tube; anthers 8-11 mm long, brownish; pollen yellow. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite upper 1/2 of anthers, branches 3-4 mm long. Capsules ellipsoid, ± 20 mm long. Seeds broadly ovate, (5-)7-8 x 4-6 mm, broadly and evenly winged.