Gladiolus permeabilis subsp. permeabilis showing windows

The flowers of Gladiolus permeabilis subsp. permeabilis are spaced in a short spike in two opposing ranks, i.e. they don’t all face in the same direction. Each flower is subtended by or furled in soft, blue-green bracts at the corolla base. The flower becomes about 3,5 cm long and is strongly fragrant.

The narrow bases of the tepals show gaps or windows through the flower when viewed from the side as in the photo, typical of the species. Maybe the specific (and subspecific) names were derived from this feature. Per means through and meare means to pass in Latin (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).