Gladiolus zimbabweensis Goldblatt

Iridaceae, P. Goldblatt. Flora Zambesiaca 12:4. 1993

Habit

Plants 20–35 cm high.

Corms

Corms 9–12 mm in diameter; tunics of fine pale netted fibres, sometimes extending upward in a neck.

Leaves

Foliage leaves 4–5, the lower 2 basal, reaching to about the base of the spike, 1–1.5 mm wide, linear, the margins and midrib strongly thickened and raised, thus arching over the surface, edges of the raised parts ciliate to pubescent; the upper leaves cauline and progressively shorter, the uppermost sheathing for half of its length; sheaths, especially of the lower leaves, lightly pubescent, distinctly ribbed when dry.

Stem

Stem erect, rarely branched, flexed at or slightly above the middle.

Inflorescences

Spike 4–8(12)-flowered, inclined toward the ground; bracts green to purplish especially above, 10–15 mm long, the inner somewhat shorter than the outer.

Flowers

Flowers pale grey-blue or purple to pink, the lower lateral tepals each with a pale transverse band outlined in purple across the lower part of the limb; perianth tube 7–10 mm long, curving outward between the bracts, widening gradually toward the mouth; tepals unequal, the uppermost 14–19 × c. 10 mm, larger than the others, arched to hooded over the stamens, the upper lateral tepals smaller, directed forward and curving outward near the apices, the lower 3 tepals c. 10 × c. 4 mm, straight, inclined, joined to the upper laterals for 2–4 mm, usually slightly exceeding the uppermost when viewed in profile, fairly abruptly expanded in the upper half, the lower lateral tepals channelled below.

Stamens

Filaments 12–14 mm long, exserted for 8–9 mm; anthers c. 6 mm long, with an apiculum 0.3–0.5 mm long.

Style

Style dividing opposite the lower third of the anthers; style branches c. 2 mm long, entwined with the anthers.

Fruits

Capsules 12–15 mm long, obovoid.