Gladiolus watermeyeri L.Bolus

Plants (100-)160-350 mm high. Corm globose to depressed-globose, 15-22 mm diam.; tunics soft-papery to membranous, not persisting, decaying irregularly. Stem erect below, flexed outward above sheathing part of third leaf and inclined above, occasionally robust plants with 1 branch. Leaves 4 or 5, lower 3 basal, lowermost longest and usually exceeding spike, others seldom reaching beyond middle of spike, narrowly lanceolate to linear, 3-11 mm wide, strongly 2-to 5-ribbed, margins thickened and raised, scabrid on veins, cauline leaves smaller, diverging from stem. Spike inclined, lightly flexuose, (1)2-to 6-flowered; bracts bright green, transparent along veins, outer 40-45 mm long, inner slightly shorter, not keeled, forked. Flowers greenish to creamy white, dorsal tepal grey-translucent but purplish along midline, upper lateral tepals conspicuously veined with maroon to purple or pink, lower 3 tepals dark olive-green, paler at tips and lightly veined, sutures between tepals thickened into iridescent papillose ridges, with strong freesia-like scent; perianth tube narrowly and obliquely funnel-shaped, 14-16 mm long, lower cylindric part ± 10 mm long, with sharp bend at base of flared part; tepals with upper laterals largest, dorsal hooded over filaments, boat-shaped, 27-35 x 10-15 mm, upper laterals spade-shaped, narrowed near base into short claws 1-2 mm long, curving outward from near base, 20-30 x 15-25 mm, lower 3 tepals united below for 2-4 mm, free parts 20-25 mm long, lower laterals channelled and narrowed below into claws, limbs narrowly boat-shaped, ± 9 mm long, lowermost triangular, narrowed below into a short claw, ± 22 mm wide. Filaments strongly arched, 20-22 mm long, exserted 15-16 mm from tube; anthers 9-13 mm long, dark green; pollen yellowish. Style arching over stamens, dividing between middle and apex of anthers, branches 4-8 mm long. Capsules broadly ellipsoid and 3-sided, (20-)27-35 mm long. Seeds broadly oval, (7-)9-11 x (5-)7-9 mm, light to dark pinkish brown, broadly and evenly winged.