Gladiolus hirsutus Jacq.

Plants 350-500 mm high, with cataphylls usually pubescent, often dry at flowering time. Corm ± globose, 18-30 mm diam.; tunics coarsely fibrous, often accumulating in a mass. Stem flexed outward above sheath of second leaf and inclined, unbranched, 1.0-1.5 mm diam. below base of spike. Leaves 3(4), lower 2 basal, second leaf sheathing lower 1/2 of stem, pubescent throughout or only on sheaths, blades relatively short, lowermost reaching upper 1/2 of stem or sometimes top of spike, lanceolate, 3-8(-13) mm wide, main vein and margins lightly thickened, secondary veins also evident, uppermost leaf inserted on upper 1/3 of stem, pubescent or not, margins united around stem. Spike inclined, lightly flexuose, 3-to 6(8)-flowered; bracts green or flushed greyish or purple, outer 18-26 mm long, inner shorter, acute. Flowers pale to deep pink or mauve, occasionally almost white, lower 3 tepals cream-coloured to pale yellow below with nectar guides irregularly spotted or streaked lines in lower 2/3, lines decurrent on tube, occasionally lightly scented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 15-26(-40) mm long, cylindric lower part enclosed in tube; tepals obovate to broadly lanceolate, dorsal largest, arching over stamens, 19-27(-35) x 13-20 mm, spreading distally, upper laterals 17-23(-34) x 10-15 mm, lower 3 tepals joined to upper laterals for 2-5 mm and together for up to 3 mm, narrowly lanceolate, not clearly clawed below, subequal, 15-20(-23) x 7-12 mm. Filaments 11-13 mm long, exserted 4-6 mm from tube; anthers 6-9 mm long, pink; pollen white. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite anther tips, branches 2-4 mm long. Capsules ovoid to ± ellipsoid, 20-24 mm long, ± as long as bracts. Seeds broadly oval, 6.0-7.5 x ± 5 mm, evenly winged or wing lacking on one side.