Gladiolus elliotii flower spike

The straight flower spike of Gladiolus elliotii consists of from 14 to 25 flowers. They grow in two ranks, nearly opposite when open.

The pair of soft-textured, pointed floral bracts are pale, appearing slightly inflated. The inner bract is tubular, with lower margins fused around the ovary. The outer one has two ridges in its lower parts.

The bracts are of similar length, the margins of the upper parts soon dry (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Pooley, 1998; Lowrey and Wright, 1987).