Gladiolus orchidiflorus flower spike

The inflorescence of Gladiolus orchidiflorus is an inclined spike at the top of a stem that often has one or two branches. It bears up to 12 flowers in the main spike. The flowers alternate up the stalk in two vertical ranks, separated by an angle of about 60˚. The sometimes droopy lower lateral tepals, colourfully marked, are here protruding forward or porrect, rather than hanging. 

Flowering happens from late winter to after midspring (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; iNaturalist).