I am so excited to have discovered our third Gladiolus species on HeatherTon. I visit the Gladiolus woodii flower stalk regularly hoping to see the single leaf that develops after the flower (which currently has numerous drying seed capsules on it), when I looked across the grassland area and noticed a new flower head that I had not seen before, a few metres away from the woodii. Although I am still waiting for some experts from the “ispotnature” website to confirm this identification, I am convinced that my identification is correct.
This geophyte (a perennial plant that re-sprouts by means of buds on underground bulbs, tubers or corms) is found in the northern regions of South Africa (See distribution map from http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1549-204) from Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the eastern parts of the North West province and the southern areas of Limpopo. The plant grows in rocky grasslands or woodlands. Unfortunately, none of my reference books have any further information on this species and I cannot find any further information on the Internet.
The species vinosomaculatus was originally considered a subspecies of Gladiolus ecklonii but has since been recognised as a separate species. The epithet vinosomaculatus refers to the wine coloured (vinos) speckles (maculate) on the tepals of this plant. Two other close relatives of this species are G. ecklonii and G. rehmannii.
The narrow sword shaped leaves form a pseudostem and can be up to 1000mm tall. Our 3 specimens that I have found have leaves about 10mm wide and plants are about 650mm tall.
Each flower has a green triangular bract looming over it. The flowers are about 950mm in diameter and consists of six long tapering tepals with a slender tube. The creamy-white flowers have fine deep red speckles as per the descriptive name.
A little whimsy – Gentle Moonweb
She is a messenger of the moon goddess. She lives in villages and even in bold city places. She can only be seen in the mist of an early morning. She wears brightly coloured stripy clothes like a bee and has bright blue butterfly wings.
HeatherTon Wild Flowers 
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