Gladiolus priorii (N.E.Br.) Goldblatt & M.p.de Vos

Plants 300-500(-700) mm high. Corm ovoid, 12-20 mm diam.; tunics papery, becoming softly fibrous. Stem erect, flexed outward above sheaths of upper 3 leaves, unbranched. Leaves (3)4, lowermost basal and sheathing lower 1/3-1/2 of stem, relatively short, rarely reaching base of spike, linear, up to 100 mm long, usually fairly fleshy, margins and main vein not raised or thickened, remaining leaves progressively shorter. Spike inclined, flexuose, 1-to 4(5)-flowered; bracts firm-textured, outer 25-40(-50) mm long, inner shorter to ± as long. Flowers scarlet, base of lower tepals and upper part of tube pale yellow or cream-coloured, unscented; perianth tube 30-46 mm long, slender and cylindric in lower 10-20 mm, abruptly expanded into a wider cylindric upper part 20-30 mm long; tepals lanceolate, dorsal largest, extending horizontally over stamens, 25-32 x 15-19 mm, upper laterals spreading ± from base, 22-32 x 10-12 mm, lower 3 tepals arching downward from base, 20-27 x 9-12 mm. Filaments 25-37 mm long, exserted 6-10 mm from tube; anthers 7.5-8.5 mm long, pale yellow; pollen yellow. Style extending horizontally over stamens, dividing between middle and upper 1/3 of anthers, 2.5-3.5 mm long. Capsules ellipsoid, acute, 12-15 mm long. Seeds ovate, 6-7 x ± 5 mm, broadly and evenly winged.