Gladiolus maculatus colouring
Author: Ivan Lätti
Photographer: MC Botha
Gladiolus maculatus flower colours are variable.
This one has pinkish red in the centre of the dorsal tepal. Vein lines spread to the margins in the colours of particular patches. The lower three tepals are cream, yellowed towards the margins with purple spots varying in density. One upper lateral tepal is close to missing, the flower ageing.
The three bilobed, oblong anthers dangle in front of the dorsal tepal, the style skewed above them (Goldblatt and Manning, 1998; Mustart, et al, 1997; iNaturalist).