Quick Characteristics:
| Flower Colors: | pink |
| Climate: | summer rain climate |
Gladiolus loteniensis is a narrow endemic known only from the upper Loteni River valley in KwaZulu-Natal. It grows in flat sites along the riverbank in black peaty soil and in the lee of low cliffs or boulders. Growing from 30 to 60 cm high, it has 4 to 7 leaves. The lower and longest basal leaves are narrowly lanceolate to linear with a lightly thickened and raised midrib and the remaining leaves are inserted between the middle and upper quarter of the stem and are channelled. Flowering occurs early December to mid January with a straight to slightly flexed spike of 6 to 12 unscented pale lilac short tubed flowers. The lower three tepals are veined violet on a cream to pale yellow background in the lower two thirds; the upper third is pale or dark lilac. Photos taken by Rachel Saunders December 2014.
