Gladiolus kamiesbergensis G.J.Lewis

Plants 450-900 mm high. Corm globose, 18-22 mm diam.; tunics leathery, breaking into moderately thick vertical fibres. Stem ± erect, unbranched. Leaves usually 4, lowermost often exceeding spike, ± 1.3 mm diam., terete and finely 4-grooved with main vein and margins raised and strongly thickened, second leaf much shorter and more slender, sheathing stem below, upper 2 leaves entirely sheathing or with vestigial blades, lower margins overlapping or rarely sheaths closed near base. Spike ± erect or lightly flexed at base and barely inclined, 4-to 9(12)-flowered; bracts pale with hyaline margins, outer 13-18 mm long, inner shorter to ± as long. Flowers pale blue-lilac with minute purple dots on tepals, especially toward apices, lower lateral tepals yellow on lower half of limbs, sweetly apple-scented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 12-13 mm long; tepals with dorsal largest, arching to hooded over stamens, 16-21 x 10-12 mm, upper laterals obliquely ovate, curving outward apically, 16-18 x 8-10 mm, windowed between bases of dorsal and upper laterals, lower tepals united with upper laterals for 5 mm and together for 1-2 mm, lower laterals twisted obliquely, narrowed below into linear, channelled claws 3-4 mm long, abruptly expanded into oval limbs ± 7 x 7 mm, limbs spooned, lower median lanceolate, ± 9 x 7 mm. Filaments arched below dorsal tepal, ± 12 mm long, exserted ± 9 mm from tube; anthers ± 6 mm long, lilac; pollen whitish. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite middle of anthers, branches ± 2 mm long. Capsules obovoid, obtuse, 15-18 mm long. Seeds ovate, ± 5.5 x 6 mm, broadly and evenly winged.