Gladiolus orchidiflorus leaves

Gladiolus orchidiflorus annually grows about four to eight sword-shaped to linear, sometimes grass-like leaves. The blades are grey-green and narrow, up to 1 cm wide, mainly basal and half as tall as the flowering stem. Leaf midribs and margins are slightly thickened. The blades variably curving in picture may also be straight.

There are normally also a few short cataphylls beside the leaves, not visible in picture. They are pale and membranous, the tallest up to 3 cm and then green or purple (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; iNaturalist).