Gladiolus ecklonii inflorescence

The spike of Gladiolus ecklonii flowers usually grows inclined and zigzagging between flowers. The flowers are fairly close together.

The dorsal tepals belonging to the inner whorl are here a little more forward over the flower centre than up, as if shielding it. They veer away from the two upper laterals that are taller and paler in appearance.

There are two soft-textured, pale green or purplish bracts subtending each flower, the inner one smaller (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; iNaturalist; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).