Gladiolus permeabilis subsp. edulis flowers to one side

Gladiolus permeabilis subsp. edulis usually bears four to eight flowers in a secund inflorescence, all the flowers facing to one side of the stem. The flowers may be purple and lack the maroon markings sometimes present on the central tepal, usually mainly pale cream, greyish or mauve.

The photo was taken in Mpumalanga near Groblersdal during February, when the grassland was flourishing after ample rain (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; iSpot; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).