Gladiolus meridionalis G.J.Lewis

Plants 300-800 mm high. Corm globose, 10-20 mm diam.; tunics papery to leathery, becoming fibrous. Stem erect, lightly flexed above sheaths of upper 2 leaves, unbranched. Leaves 3, lower 2 basal, lowermost sheathing lower 1/2 of stem, short, rarely reaching base of spike, linear, leathery, margins and main vein not raised or thickened, cauline leaves inserted between middle and upper 1/3 of stem, progressively shorter. Spike flexed at base and inclined, flexuose, 1-or 2(3)-flowered; bracts green or greyish to dull purple, soft-textured, outer 36-50 mm long, inner shorter to ± as long. Flowers pale to deep salmon-pink or cream-coloured, often with dark spots at base of lower tepals and in lower throat, faintly sweet-scented; perianth tube 40-48 mm long, slender and subcylindric below for ± 20 mm, upper part wide and cylindric; tepals ovate, subequal, dorsal 22-28 x 18-23 mm, extending ± horizontally over stamens, upper laterals 24-32 x 15-17 mm long, lower 3 tepals joined to upper laterals for 6-7 mm and to one another for ± 1 mm, free parts 20-28 mm long, curving downward in upper half. Filaments 28-40 mm long, exserted 3-4 mm from tube; anthers 9-10 mm long, light brown; pollen yellow. Style extending horizontally over stamens, dividing at or up to 5 mm beyond anther tips, branches ± 4 mm long. Capsules ovoid-ellipsoid, ± 12 mm long. Seeds ovate, ± 5 x 3 mm, broadly and evenly winged.