Gladiolus venustus floral bracts

The Gladiolus venustus inflorescence in picture presents its small, pale green bracts. Each flower has an outer and an inner bract around the corolla base, the latter only slightly smaller. It has a minutely forked tip that tends to dry out. Pale veins are visible on the bract blades.

Some cauline (stem) leaves are also present, much longer than the bracts and straight, sheathing the stem.

Patches of bright colour are present thanks to the corollas. The species also produces flowers in dull yellow overall colouring (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning and Goldblatt, 1998; iNaturalist).