Gladiolus microcarpus G.J.Lewis

Plants up to 1 m high, usually inclined or pendent, with densely puberulous cataphylls. Corm ± globose, ± 20 mm diam.; tunics membranous to finely fibrous. Stem inclined or drooping, unbranched or with 1 to 3 branches. Leaves 5 to 7, lower 3 ± basal, ± as long or longer than stem but trailing, narrowly lanceolate, 6-12 mm wide, main vein strongly thickened and raised, a pair of secondary veins, 1 or 2 pairs of tertiary veins and margins lightly raised, with minute hairs on blades and sheaths, cauline leaves decreasing in size above. Spike inclined to ascending, lightly flexuose, (5)8-to 12-flowered, sub-2-ranked; bracts dull green to dull greenish purple, lightly ridged, outer 25-35 mm long, ± 2.5 internodes long, inner shorter and completely enclosed, forked apically. Flowers bright pink, lower 3 tepals each with broad white longitudinal zone in lower 2/3 with narrow reddish purple streak in midline, reddish at base of throat, unscented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 35-40 mm long, cylindric in lower 30-35 mm; tepals lanceolate, outer whorl smaller than inner, dorsal largest, 35-40 x ± 17 mm, ascending and inclined over stamens, upper laterals curving outward near tips, 25-30 x ± 10 mm, lower laterals lightly inclined, tips curving downward, 32-35 x ± 13 mm, lower median 24-26 x ± 8 mm. Filaments ± 15 mm long, exserted ± 10 mm from tube; anthers ± 8 mm long, whitish to lilac, apiculate; pollen white. Style arching over stamens, dividing shortly beyond anther apices, branches ± 4 mm long. Capsules oblong, 3-lobed above and retuse, 12-15 mm long, enclosed in bracts. Seeds oblong, broadly and evenly winged, ± 5 x 4 mm.