Gladiolus liliaceus leaves and stem

The two to four leaves of Gladiolus liliaceus are narrow, from 1,5 mm to 6 mm in width. They are about linear with prominent veins and thick margins. There are also short, membranous to leathery cataphylls at the base.

The lowermost leaf is conspicuously long, its midrib and margins notably thick. It is the only one growing from the base, reaching a height above the lowermost flower to sometimes slightly higher than the top one. The camera may have missed this lowest, tallest leaf here, catching only the two stem leaves (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Mustart, et al, 1997; iNaturalist; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).