Gladiolus triphyllus

Gladiolus triphyllus, the 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. The flowers are on a spike, zygomorphic, perianth of 6 petaloid parts, 2.5–3 cm long, pale or dark rose pink, scented only in the afternoon, bracts 1.5–3 cm long. It flowers from March to May. The fruit is a capsule.

Habitat
Openings of pine forests, maquis, garigue on limestone or igneous formations from 0 to 1200 m altitude.

Distribution
Endemic to Cyprus, locally common especially in Akamas (Smyies, Fontana, Amoroza, Karavopetres, Erimites etc.), Tripylos, Dodheka Anemi (Paphos forest), Stavrovouni, Akrotiri, Pentadaktylos, Yialousa.