Gladiolus venustus flower

The two-lipped feature of a Gladiolus venustus flower is strongly conveyed in the photo.

The perianth tube is funnel-shaped and slanted. The lower tepal trio is lemon-yellow and white in their lower halves, apart from V-shaped purple streaks near the margins. They are narrow and jointly constricted at their claw-shaped bases. Tapering of margins in the purple upper halves is everything but smooth or regularly shaped.

The wavy upper tepals seen here bunch their coloured tips like a sumptuous coiffure. They conceal stamens and style that are still within reach of pollinators sure to respond to colour, shape and scent.

The open flower of G. venustus measures up to 3 cm across (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning and Goldblatt, 1998; iNaturalist).