|
Description:
Plants (150–)200–500(–800) mm high. Corm subglobose to depressed-globose, 10–20 mm diam.; tunics of fine -textured fibres, sometimes extended into a fibrous or papery collar. Stem erect or flexed outward above upper leaf and inclined, simple or with 1(2) suberect branches from upper 1/2. Leaves 5–8, suberect, firm-textured, narrowly lanceolate or rarely falcate, (40–)150–300(–500) × (5–)7–10(–18) mm, acute or acuminate, with raised main vein and strong submarginal vein ± 1 mm from margin, usually not reaching base of spike, cauline leaves ± overlapping in lower 1/2 of stem, uppermost dry and clasping, bract-like. Spike suberect or inclined, nearly 2-ranked, moderately dense or lax, 4–12(–15)-flowered; bracts dry, papery, brown or pale-translucent below, densely speckled and flecked with dark brown in upper 1/2, outer 7–10(–12) mm long, ± 3–5-toothed with middle tooth reduced or irregularly toothed, inner slightly shorter, bifid. Flowers slightly zygomorphic, cream to pale yellow, straw or flushed with pale apricot near tips or on reverse, usually with dark veins, unscented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 10–15 mm long with basal 2–4 mm narrow, curved outward, widening to 8–10 mm diam.; tepals subequal in length, oblong to obovate, (15–)18–20(–23) mm long, obtuse, spreading, dorsal slightly wider, 8–10(–14) mm wide, others 5–8(–10) mm wide, lower median tepal sometimes with low thickened basal ridge. Filaments unilateral, arcuate, 7–12 mm long, included; anthers 5–9 mm long, curved, apiculate, pink or yellow. Style dividing near apex of anthers or beyond, branches 3–5 mm long. Capsules subglobose or obovoid, ± 8 mm long. Flowering time: August to November (December).
|