Gladiolus rubellus Goldblatt

Flowers bright orange-red, the lower lateral tepals each with a transverse yellow band outlined in dark-red across the distal half; perianth tube c. 14 mm long, widening and curving outwards near the apex; tepals unequal, lanceolate, the uppermost 16–20 mm long (shorter when dry), larger than the others, the 3 lower tepals 12–14 mm long, joined with the upper lateral tepals for 2–4 mm, and to themselves for c. 3 mm, exceeding the uppermost tepal when viewed in profile, abruptly expanded in the upper half, more or less horizontal, flexed downwards distally.