Citation: Ker Gawler, Curtisg Bot. Mag. 17:t. 621 (1803).

Synonymy: Gladiolus strictus Sol. in Aiton, Hort. Kew. 1:63 (1789).

Common name: Babiana, upright babiana, baboon flower.

Description:
Perennial herb 12-40 cm high; corm to 2.5 cm diam.; leaves 6-8, erect to spreading in a fan-shaped cluster, oblong, acute, 7-16 cm long, 6-15 mm wide, softly pubescent to villous.

Scape unbranched, exceeding the leaves; spike straight, 2-9-flowered; outer spathe bract oblong, 1.2-1.8 cm long, herbaceous, pubescent, with a brown scarious apex; inner spathe bract slightly shorter, deeply 2-fid, acute, completely scarious; perianth actinomorphic, purple to blue, sometimes marked with red; tube c. 1.5 cm long; lobes spreading, equal, obovate, 1.8-2.5 cm long; stamens equilateral; anthers purple or rarely yellow, c. 5 mm long; ovary 3-4 mm long, villous; style branches included in the perianth, level with the anthers, spathulate, purple.

Distribution:  A garden escape naturalised on roadsides and in open forest. S.Aust.: SL, KI.   W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.   Native to South Africa. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Sept., Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available