Gladiolus scullyi colour difference

The older, lower flower in the Gladiolus scullyi spike is discoloured from age, particularly in the basal part of its lower lip. Apart from that it still holds its floral pose well, although the younger flower has a stronger presence of stamens with pale anthers halfway up the dorsal tepal. The style behind the stamens in the younger flower is slightly taller, its stigma branches etched against the tepal surface.

Flowering happens late in winter and early in spring, roughly aligned with the peak of the Namaqualand blooming season (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).