Gladiolus varius spike

The unscented flowers of Gladiolus varius grow in a slightly inclined spike, usually from eight to twelve per inflorescence, occasionally more. The inflorescence is secund, the flowers facing in the same direction and many of them open simultaneously. Two pale bracts subtend each flower, partly or fully dry and brown when the flowers open, as in the photo.

The flowers are pink, sometimes pale to nearly white, the tepals unequal.

Flowering happens late in summer, early in autumn.

Long-tongued flies are important in the pollination of the species (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; iNaturalist; JSTOR).