Gladiolus varius leaves and inflorescence

Gladiolus varius grows about seven leaves, four or five of which are usually basal in a distichous fan. Some short cataphylls are also present, accumulated around the stem base.

The leaves are narrowly lanceolate to linear, the margins and midribs variably thickened. In picture the margins are cream-coloured. The basal, longest leaves reach at least to around the base of the spike, the shorter stem-leaves sheathing it.

The unbranched stem is erect in its lower part, flexing out above the sheath of the second highest leaf (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; iNaturalist; JSTOR).