Gladiolus aureus

This species reportedly grows in only a single spot near Cape Town, and is classified as extremely endangered. I received seed from Kirstenbosch back when they still shared seed. Unfortunately, only a single clone survived from the ones I grew, and it's not self-fertile (and is very slow to make offsets). I was resigned to eventually losing it, but Ernie DeMarie shared seeds from his three plants, and now I have a viable little colony that produces fresh seed every year.

It's a pretty little flower, and hybridizes nicely with other species.