Gladiolus dalenii subsp. dalenii flower spike

The flower spike of Gladiolus dalenii subsp. dalenii is erect and straight, comprising from two to fourteen flowers, often about eight. The pale grey purple bracts around and later below the corollas may also be green. The outer bract is about 4 cm long, the inner one less than two thirds of the length of the outer.

The dorsal tepal is largest, positioned horizontally to curving down, the two flanking it also large. There is often small-spot, orange speckling or streaking on the corollas, while some plants bear plain coloured flowers. The lower three tepals point down. The green parts on the lower tepals in picture are on some plants yellow or lemon yellow. The perianth tube is from 2,5 to 5 cm long. In shape it is about cylindrical near the base, curving outwards and downwards as it widens in the upper part. 

The stamens are positioned below the dorsal tepal. The anthers are about 14 mm long and brown or yellow from pollen. The three short style branches are visible above the anthers of at least one flower in the photo (Manning, 2009; Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).