Gladiolus speciosus Thunb.

Plants (80-)120-200 mm high; Corm depressed-globose, 7-12 mm diam., with several long, slender, often branched stolons from base; tunics membranous to dry and softly papery, decaying irregularly. Stem erect below or inclined above ground, flexed outward above uppermost basal leaf and then inclined, compressed and 2-angled below, 3-sided and winged above, occasionally with a short branch. Leaves 4 to 6(8), lower 3 to 6 basal, lowermost about twice as long as stems, remaining leaves progressively shorter, linear to falcate, (2-)3-7 mm wide, midribs and sometimes 1 other pair of veins evident but not raised, margins sometimes slightly thickened, upper 2 or 3 leaves cauline, sheathing only at base. Spike inclined, lightly flexuose, 2-to 5(8)-flowered; bracts keeled, pale glaucous green usually red on keel and margins, outer 35-40(-50) mm long, inner shorter. Flowers predominantly orange, dorsal tepal whitish inside, upper laterals usually with large yellow blotch on reverse and orange or dull red to purple or yellowish inside, lower tepals yellow with orange apices, with iridescent papillose ridges at sutures between tepals, strongly herbaceous-scented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 11-13 mm long; tepals dorsal largest, obovate to oblanceolate, concave, nearly horizontal, hooded over stamens, 25-40 x 18-26 mm, upper laterals broadly spade-shaped, strongly narrowed near bases into short claws 1-3 mm long, limbs triangular, 20-25 x 20-28 mm, gently curving outward distally, lower 3 tepals united with upper laterals for 3-5 mm, free parts 20-25 mm long, laterals spathulate, narrowed below into channelled claws 6-8 mm long, gradually expanding distally and 8-10 mm wide, lowermost with a claw ± 5 mm long, limb broadly triangular, 17-24 mm wide. Filaments ascending to arched, ± 22 mm long, exserted for ± 15 mm from tube, minutely pubescent toward base; anthers 8.5-10.0 mm long, dull greenish yellow, sometimes reddish to purple on lines of dehiscence; pollen yellowish. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite middle third of anthers, branches ± 7 mm long. Capsules ellipsoid, 3-sided, often shortly beaked, (20-)30-35 x ± 11 mm, septa sometimes inflated and pithy. Seeds ovoid, sometimes only 1 or 2 per locule with remaining ovules aborted, 9-12 x 8-11 mm, broadly and evenly winged.