Gladiolus leptosiphon

Gladiolus leptosiphon, previously scientifically known as Radinosiphon leptosiphon, is a slender, cormous perennial reaching heights from 30 cm to 70 cm. The corm becomes about 1,8 cm in diameter, its tunic consisting of coarse fibres developing into vertical claw-like ribs at the base.

About six leaves are grown annually, as well as small, membranous cataphylls present close to ground level. About four leaves are basal, the longest ones. The stem leaves are shorter. The linear leaves are narrow, thickened at the midribs but not along the margins. Leaf-tip height is about the top of the flower spike.

The species distribution is in the east of the Western Cape to the west of the Eastern Cape, slightly inland to the north of the southernmost mountain range, the plants mainly growing in the Swartberg and Baviaanskloof Mountains.

The habitat is renosterveld and dry, stony fynbos slopes in clay and shale soils. The habitat population is considered vulnerable early in the twenty first century, on account of expanding ostrich and crop farming (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).