Cormous geophyte up to 35cm. Flowering stem without foliage leaves. Leaves produced after flowering, 1 or 2, terete and 4-grooved, 1mm in diameter. Flowers in 3-11 flowered spike, pink with pale markings edged with red on the lower tepals; usually rose-scented.

After: J. F. Martley, a bulb grower, who found a new gladiolus at Banhoek, Stellenbosch in 1932 which he brought to the attention of Kirstenbosch botanists and which was published as Gladiolus martleyi.