Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Kalkoentjie, Rooikalkoentjie, Little turkey

Family: Iridaceae (Iris)

Distribution: Western Cape

Habitat: Stony sandstone or granitic soils

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

National red list: Least Concern

Life form: Geophyte (bulb, corm or tuber - seasonally dormant)

Comments: This Gladiolus is one of the Gladioli known as "kalkoentjies", an Afrikaans term translated as "little turkeys". This group is described as having spade-shaped upper petals and narrower lower petals which are the same colour at the tips as the upper tepals. These pretty bulbs are also usually quite fragrant. The flowers of this species particularly reminds one of a turkey chick with its orange flowers. Although Gladiolus alatus has lost parts of its habitat to crop cultivation, it is quite common and widespread and is therefore not considered to be a threatened species. It grows on stony sandstone or granitic soils from the Bokkeveld Mountains to Bredasdorp and flowers in spring.