|
Description:
Plants 70–180(–260) mm high. Corms 12–16 mm in diam., tunics blackish, basal rim split vertically. Stem 5–7-branched, branches subtended by bracts (1–)2–5 mm long, those below appearing leaf-like, stem compressed and winged. Leaves 2, lowermost inserted at ground level, largest, falcate, 50–120(–240) × (6–)10–15 mm, margins undulate and crisped, obtuse to subapiculate, with prominent main vein and a pair of secondary veins (rarely one) on either side almost as prominent, second leaf inserted near middle of stem, 20–70 mm long, oblong‑lanceolate, margins ± straight, not or hardly sheathing at base. Inflorescence a congested, flat-topped false panicle, flowers crowded at branch tips, ultimate branchlets with 1 or 2 sessile flowers; bracts green, firm-textured, 9–11 mm long, outer folded in midline, margins often red, inner obtuse or slightly emarginate. Flowers zygomorphic, tilted backward, dark blue to violet, with triangular, dark blue-black or red-purple blotch at base of lower 3 and sometimes adjacent upper lateral tepals; perianth tube funnel-shaped, 10–12 mm long; tepals elliptic-ovate, obtuse, mostly 17–20 × 7–8 mm. Filaments unilateral, ascending or extended horizontally due to adaxial tilting of flower, 11–15 mm long, exserted for 8–10 mm; anthers 3–5 mm long, pollen dark blue or red-brown. Style dividing opposite upper 1/3 of anthers; branches 2.5–3.0 mm long, divided for ± 1/2 their length. Capsules ± top-shaped and 3-lobed, ± 6 mm long, with up to 8 seeds per locule. Seeds red-brown, ovoid, truncate at chalazal end, rugulo-reticulate, ± 1.0 × 1.0–1.3 mm, with funicular appendage 0.2–0.4 mm long. Chromosome number 2n = 20 ± 0–2B. Flowering time: late September to late October.
|