Citation: N.E. Br., Kew Bull. 1929:133 (1929).

Synonymy: Gladiolus villosus Burman f., Fl. Ind. 2 (1768).

Common name: None

Description:
Perennial 10-35 cm high, often producing bulbils in the leaf axils; corm to 1.5 cm diam., tunic of hard woody strands forming a framework; leaves 5-7, narrowly oblanceolate, mostly subacute, 5-20 cm long, to 1.5 cm wide, soft-textured, pale-green, with a prominent mid-vein.

Scape partly sheathed by the leaves; spike 2-4-flowered, flexuose; spathes deeply lacerate with fine subulate cusps, 1.5-2.5 cm long, dark-brown above, subhyaline below; perianth tube very narrow below, abruptly widened above, 1.5-2 cm long, sulphur-yellow; dorsal lobe obovate, often emarginate, erect, 1.4-1.8 cm long, mauve; other lobes smaller, oblong to lanceolate, slightly recurved, yellow, the lower 3 connivent and often with mauve apices; anthers oblong, c. 4 mm long, yellow; style arched with the stamens, the branches c. 3 mm long, level with the anthers.

Capsules not seen on naturalised material.

Published illustration: Mason (1972) Western Cape sandveld flowers, t. 24.

Distribution:  On roadsides and in open sclerophyll forest.   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