ISI 2026-18. Gladiolus orchidiflorus Andrews.
This small, Iridaceous, bulbous plant has a surprisingly broad range through much of South Africa north into Namibia. This encompasses areas with summer rainfall as well as others with both winter and summer rainfall and, in its western extent, areas with strictly winter rainfall. Therefore, there are numerous ecotypes, but all have subtly colored flowers that may appear drab in comparison to the vividly colored selections grown for the cut flower trade. Nevertheless, the epithet orchidiflorusalludes to the exotic-looking zygomorphic structure of the flowers which are ornamented with ornate nectar guides meriting close inspection to be appreciated. Ours are a pale greenish yellow with purplish tips on the lower three petals and a scattering of dark stripes and spots in the throat. We offer divisions of a plant collected from a winter rainfall area. HBG 133939, was originally collected August 17, 1997, by John Trager (JNT 97-169), Steven Hammer, and Matt Opel, in the Richtersveld, in the dry interior desert region of the Little Hellskloof, at the base of the mountain with the surveyor's designation of 16 berg, near Klipbok, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Photo © 2026 by Max Tepper, The Huntington.
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