Gladiolus sericeovillosus subsp. sericeovillosus soft colours

The flower spike of Gladiolus sericeovillosus subsp. sericeovillosus is erect and straight, the stem sometimes hairy. The green, soft-textured bracts below the arched corollas are conspicuous. The species shows little flare in its tepal tips, compared to some gladioli. The deepest colouring on the plant in picture is reserved for stem patches, a dark red here invaded by white stubble.

Plant hairs serve to discourage hungry insects from eating (too much), for what must herbivores then eat? Hairs also provide coverings for reducing evaporation and allowing leaf surfaces to cool the plant down. Moisture management is big in plant wellbeing. 

The specific and subspecific name sericeovillosus is derived from the Latin word part sericeo- meaning silky and word villosus meaning shaggy or hairy, referring to the silky haired and shaggy surfaces of the bracts (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; Wikipedia).