Gladiolus carneus are pink or white, often with dark markings on the lower tepals as “landing strip” for pollinators. The cormous geophytes grow on sandstone slopes, often in wet areas. The “painted ladies” flower prolifically after a veldfire and are pollinated by long-tongued flies. Hikers have observed many of them on Rooiels Mountain three years after the last fire - this lady is beautiful.