Gladiolus stellatus G.J.Lewis

Plants 300-600 mm high. Corm globose, 9-15 mm diam., often with stolons from base; tunics of fine to fairly coarse fibres. Stem ± erect, inclined above sheath of uppermost basal leaf, usually with 1 or 2 branches. Leaves (4)6 to 9, lower 2 to 7 basal, shorter or slightly longer than stem, linear, (1-)2-3 mm wide, oval in section, margins not raised, cauline leaves shorter, usually entirely channelled. Spike slightly inclined, weakly secund, 5-12(-15)-flowered; bracts pale green, often becoming dry and light brown above, outer 10-15 mm long, inner slightly shorter. Flowers actinomorphic, star-like, white to cream-coloured or pale lilac, tepals with obscure narrow brown or purple median streak, reverse of tepals usually lightly feathered with greenish to brownish purple, intensely sweetly scented; perianth tube funnel-shaped, 5-7 mm long, included or shortly exserted from bracts; tepals subequal, spreading, elliptic, 14-20 x 5-8 mm. Filaments 5-7 mm long, exserted 3-4 mm from tube, parallel and contiguous; anthers (4-)5-6(-7) mm long, erect or diverging; pale yellow; pollen yellow. Style central, enclosed by filaments, dividing between base and upper 1/3 of anthers, branches 4-5 mm long. Capsules elongate-ellipsoid to oblong, 12-17 x 5 mm. Seeds ovate, ± 6 x 4 mm, broadly and evenly winged.