| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | Local and probably rare. |
| Status: | Mozambique |
| Description: |
Perennial herb 80-100 cm tall, growing from a corm. Stem unbranched erect with 5-4 sheathing leaves, 6-6.5 cm long. Floliage leaf solitary, basal, linear, 5 - 6 mm wide and longer than the stem. Flowers whitish; outer tepal limbs with narrow pale yellow nectar guides and dark longitudinal lines near the base; base of the inner tepals and style branches reddish purple. Outer tepals, lanceolate, 55 -57 mm long. Capsules ovoid 16 -20 mm long,narrowed into a small apical beak. |
| Type location: |
Mozambique |
| Notes: | Instantly recognizeable by the large white flowers with deep red veining on the outside of the tepals and deep red flush near the base at the inside of the tepals. |
| Derivation of specific name: | niassensis: of Niassa (Game Reserve) where the type specimen was collected. |
| Habitat: | In woodland on isolated inselberg |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1000 m (approx) |
| Flowering time: | Apr - May |
| Worldwide distribution: | Only known from Mt Yao in the Niassa Game Reserve. |
| FZ divisions: | N |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | Endemic |
| Red data list status: | Vulnerable |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Sunday 1 November 2015 |
| Literature: |
Darbyshire, I., Timberlake, J., Osborne, J., Rokni, S., Matimele, H., Langa. C., Datizua, C., de Sousa, C., Alves, T., Massingue, A., Hadj-Hammou, J., Dhanda, S., Shah, T., Wursten, B. (2019). The endemic plants of Mozambique: diversity and conservation status Phytotaxa 136 Page 77. Goldblatt, P., Manning, J.C., von Blittersdorff, R. & Weber, O. (2014). New Species of Gladiolus L. and Moraea Mill. (Iridaceae) from Tanzania and Mozambique Kew Bulletin 69(9496) Pages 5 - 8. Protologue (Includes a picture). |