Gladiolus triphyllus, Three-leaved Gladiolus is an erect perennial herb, 15-30 cm high, glabrous, glaucous, with an ovoid corm. Leaves usually 3 or 4, alternate, simple, entire, linear, the two lower 10-30 x 0.3-0.5 cm, the upper much reduced. Flowers on a spike, zygomorphic, perianth of 6 petaloid parts, 2.5-3 cm long, pale or dark rose pink, smelling only in the afternoon, bracts 1.5-3 cm long. Flowers Mars-May. Fruit a capsule.