Gladiolus phoenix Goldblatt & J.C.Manning

Plants 500-750 mm high. Corm globose, 8-12 mm diam., with clusters of small cormlets around base on short fasciated stolons; tunics membranous, becoming finely fibrous but not accumulating significantly. Stem erect, usually with 1-3 branches. Leaves 6 to 9 (with an additional leaf per branch), lower 3 to 5 basal, reaching to base of spike, narrowly lanceolate to nearly linear, 6-12(-20) mm wide, main vein lightly raised, margins scarcely so, upper 1 or 2 leaves not normally sheathing stem, sometimes with short blades. Spike lightly flexed at base and inclined, secund, 9-to 12-flowered; bracts grey-green, outer lightly folded in upper midline, apices often slightly hooked, becoming brown near end of flowering, 13-16 mm long, inner shorter to nearly as long, minutely forked. Flowers deep pink, lower 3 tepals each with white, spear-shaped mark in midline outlined in deep pink, decurrent on the lower 1/2 of throat and with a broad white transverse band on reverse, unscented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 18-20 mm long, lower cylindric part ± 10 mm long; tepals lanceolate, dorsal largest, 26-28 x 15 mm, ascending, upper laterals ± 23 x 13 mm, directed forward below, curved outward, becoming patent distally, lower 3 tepals united basally for ± 4 m, shortly clawed and channelled below, free parts of lower laterals ± 17 x 7.5-13.0 mm, lower median ± 20 x 9-13 mm. Filaments ± 20 mm long, exserted ± 13 mm from tube; anthers ± 8 mm long, dark purple; pollen pale yellow. Style arching over stamens, dividing just below anther tips, branches ± 6 mm long. Capsules narrowly ovoid, lightly 3-lobed above and retuse, 12-15 mm long. Seeds ovate, ± 8 x 5 mm, broadly and evenly winged.