Gladiolus sempervirens G.J.Lewis

Plants 350-1000 mm high, evergreen. Corm 8-12 mm diam., shallowly seated, producing scaly, rhizome-like stolons from base; tunics leathery and not much distinguished from bases of leaves. Stem erect or inclined, flexed above sheathing parts of upper 1 or 2 leaves, sometimes with a branch, 2.5-4.0 mm diam. below base of spike. Leaves 7 to 12, lower 5 to 10 basal, reaching to ± the middle of stem, lanceolate, 6-18 mm wide, main vein and 1 other vein pair lightly thickened, margins not thickened. Spike inclined, bearing flowers on upper surface, 4-to 8-flowered; bracts soft-textured, outer 35-55(-70) mm long, inner shorter to about as long. Flowers deep carmine red, lower 3 tepals with narrow longitudinal white streak in lower midline, unscented; perianth tube funnel-shaped, 25-42 mm long, lower cylindric part ± 15 mm long; tepals elliptic, dorsal broadly elliptic, largest, 55-58 x 32-36 mm, upper laterals ± 54 x 31 mm, lower 3 joined basally for ± 4 mm, ± 50 x 20 mm. Filaments 28-42 mm long, exserted 20-24 mm from tube; anthers ± 14 mm long, purple; pollen yellow. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite anther apices, branches 7-8 mm long. Capsules oblong, 3-lobed above and retuse, (15-)20-25 mm long. Seeds oval, ± 8 x 6 mm, wing well developed.