(Gladiolus vandermerwei)
Plants are 300–600 mm high, with globe-shaped corms that are 8–12 mm in diameter and have papery to membranous tunics. Leaves are 5 to 7, narrowly lanceolate to linear, mostly basal with a raised midrib. Stems are upright at the base and slightly curved towards to the top. Inflorescence is a spike that is lightly flexuose and usually has between 3–8 flowers per spike. Flowers are bright scarlet-red, with the lower tepals yellow in the lower half. The perianth tube is narrow and cylindric, gradually expanding towards the top. The ovary is oblong, 8 mm long. The seeds are irregularly ovate.