Bobartia gladiata subsp. gladiata is one of the rush irises or in Afrikaans blombiesies (flower rushes) of the fynbos. All 14 species of Bobartia occur in fynbos. They grow tufts of mostly long, fibrous leaves from rhizomes.

B. gladiata subsp. gladiata is distributed from the Cape Peninsula eastwards to Hermanus and to the north as far as Bainskloof where this photo was taken. It grows on mountain slopes and coastal flats, becoming from 20 cm to 80 cm tall.

Another subspecies, B. gladiata subsp. major has wider, shorter leaves and perianth segments, but bigger flower clusters.  It is endemic to southern parts of the Cape Peninsula. There is also mention of a third subspecies, viz. B. gladiata subsp. teres (Bean and Johns, 2005; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iSpot; Wikipedia).