Gladiolus pappei Baker

Plants 250-350 mm high, with cataphylls often decayed. Corm globose, 5 mm diam.; tunics membranous. Stem usually erect below, flexed outward above sheaths of upper 2 leaves but usually becoming erect again, unbranched. Leaves 3 or 4(5), lower 2 basal, lowermost usually fairly small, second lowest reaching to between middle of stem and base of spike, linear, 1.6-3.0 mm wide, main vein and margins noticeably thickened, cauline leaves smaller and mostly sheathing. Spike nearly erect or lightly flexed at base and weakly inclined, lightly flexuose, (1)2-or 3(4)-flowered; bracts greyish green, often flushed purple-grey, outer 25-45 mm long, inner shorter to ± as long, notched apically. Flowers deep or sometimes pale pink, lateral tepals usually with white median diamond-to heart-shaped markings reddish on edges, lower median tepals less prominently marked, base of upper part of throat red, unscented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 30-35 mm long, lower cylindric part ± 12 mm long; tepals ± lanceolate, dorsal inclined over stamens, straight or curving upward distally, 26-30 x 15-19 mm, upper laterals gently curving outward from base, barely fully patent near apex, 25-28 x 12-15 mm, lower 3 tepals joined to upper laterals for ± 2 mm and together for ± 2 mm, horizontal below and curving downward distally, 20-28 x 10-11 mm, lower median slightly longer than lower laterals. Filaments 12-17 mm long, exserted 5-8 mm from tube; anthers 6-8 mm long, pale grey-blue; pollen pale mauve. Style arching over stamens, dividing between middle and shortly beyond anther apices, branches 5-7 mm long. Seeds ovate, 6.0-7.5 x 4-6 mm, broadly and evenly winged.