Citation: N.E. Br., Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. 20:278 (1932).

Synonymy: Gladiolus watsonius Thunb., Diss.(Gladiolus) 14 (1784).

Common name: Red Afrikander.

Description:
Perennial 40-65 cm high; corm to 2.5 cm diam., sometimes with a few underground bulbils; leaves 3 or 4, the lowest one the longest, to 80 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, with a thickened mid-vein and margins.

Spike 3-7-flowered; spathe bracts narrow-lanceolate, acute, 4-6.5 cm long; flowers red; perianth tube 4-5 cm long, with a narrow base enclosed by the spathe, abruptly swollen at the junction to an upper portion 2-3 cm long, c. 7 mm diam.; dorsal lobe broadly ovate, acuminate, 2-3 cm long, 1.2-1.5 cm wide; other lobes ovate, acute to acuminate, 1.5-2.8 cm long, spreading; anthers 8-10 mm long, purplish; style arched under the dorsal perianth lobes, with branches 4-5 mm long, level with the anthers; stigmas 2-lobed.

Published illustration: Innes (1985) The world of Iridaceae, t. 94.

Distribution:  A garden ornamental occasionally persisting on roadsides and in cemeteries.   W.Aust.; ?Vic.   Native to South Africa. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Sept.

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