Gladiolus equitans

Gladiolus equitans, in Afrikaans commonly known as bergkalkoentjie (little mountain turkey) and previously botanically as G. alatus var. namaquensis, is a compact, cormous perennial becoming from 30 cm to 45 cm tall.

The corm is from 2 cm to 4 cm in diameter, covered in layers of leathery to membranous tunics. The flower stem is ridged or winged.

The species distribution is in the Northern Cape and the Western Cape, in Namaqualand from Springbok and Okiep to the Knersvlakte.

The habitat is sandy soil on granitic, rocky slopes, or the plants are wedged in granite crevices. It is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Eliovson, 1990; iNaturalist; www.pacificbulbsociety.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).