Gladiolus ochroleucus Baker

Plants (300-)400-800 mm high, occasionally ± evergreen. Corm globose to depressed-globose, 25-35 mm diam.; tunics leathery to firm-papery, decaying into irregularly shaped fragments. Stem erect, simple or with 1 or 2 short branches. Leaves 7 to 12, mostly basal in a close fan, ± 1/2 as long as stem with longest reaching base of spike, blades narrowly lanceolate, (8-)15-25 mm wide, margins and main vein moderately thickened, margins sometimes minutely ciliate to scabrid, secondary and tertiary veins also lightly thickened, cauline leaves shorter than basal. Spike flexed at base and inclined (4-)12-to 18-flowered; bracts green, outer 25-40(-50) mm long, acute or sometimes attenuate, inner slightly shorter, bifid or deeply divided. Flowers pink to light purple or reddish, whitish or yellow flushed brownish on reverse, lower tepals white in basal 1/2, sometimes with dark red-purple median streaks, reddish at top of tube, unscented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 15-20 mm long; tepals ovate, margins ± undulate, upper 3 largest, 24-28 x 18-20 mm, dorsal hooded and horizontal, upper laterals usually slightly longer than dorsal, usually flaring outward distally or directed forward, lower lateral tepals smallest, 16-19 x ± 9 mm, narrowly channelled, directed forward, lower median curving downward distally. Filaments 10-12 mm long, exserted ± 5 mm from tube; anthers ± 9 mm long, pale mauve; pollen cream-coloured. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite upper 1/3 of anthers, branches ± 4 mm long. Capsules narrowly obovoid-oblong, 3-lobed above and retuse, (20-)25-30 mm long, shorter than bracts. Seeds oval, 8-9 x ± 5 mm, broadly and evenly winged.