Gladiolus woodii inner tepal lobes

The pair of small, inner Gladiolus woodii corolla tepals do not appear like contributing to the corolla as the rest of the tepals, more like nectar guides here.

The hood is dominant, though delivering scant shelter to the male and female floral components in its shade.

The flowers are sometimes lightly fragrant, otherwise unscented, depending on flower colour. The flowers are probably pollinated by long-tongued bees (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Pooley, 1998; Trauseld, 1969; iNaturalist).