Gladiolus scullyi

The flower of Gladiolus scullyi is similar to that of G. venustus, but less colourful. Its colouring is two-toned with pale yellow in the centre and cream or mauve towards the tepal tips. These tips do not attenuate or undulate as much as in G. venustus. In picture the tepal tips are truncated with some rounding.

The lower tepals have yellow colouring at the base and a central patch of scattered dark spots; the upper ones have faint longitudinal bands centrally on pale cream, fleshy surfaces and a hint of darker areas near the tips. The anthers are whitish oblongs, shorter than the stigma branches; one of which seems to be missing.

Blooms are seen from late winter to mid-spring; peak time for Namaqualand flower festivities (www.pacificbulbsociety.org; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997).