Gladiolus inflatus banded tepal markings

The bright markings on these Gladiolus inflatus or Tulbagh bell lower tepals continue across the three aligned limbs as a thick, irregular, deep pink-purple line on their widest parts. The line is crossed perpendicularly by the deep yellow arrow marking from the base of the central tepal. The upper three rhomboid tepal lobes resembling lopsided diamonds complete the angular floral interior neatly.

In this floral space the faint style branches diverge over the shorter oblongs of the anthers. Indeed, a festive setting for welcoming insects of the Tulbagh fynbos where the photo was taken (Manning, 2009; Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).