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Description:
Plants mostly 120–250 mm high. Corm 10–12 mm diam., broadly obconic; tunics dark brown to blackish, basal rim ± crenate, splitting vertically from base. Stem flexuose, repeatedly branched, branches subtended by bracts (1–)2–5 mm long, these sometimes leaf-like below, compressed and 2–4-winged Leaves 2 or 3, lowermost basal, ± falcate, 80–300 × 8–16 mm, margins usually undulate or slightly crisped, main vein prominent, upper leaves inserted near middle of stem, smaller than basal, not or hardly sheathing at base. Inflorescence a congested, ± flat-topped false panicle, flowers crowded at branch tips, ultimate branchlets 1–3-flowered; bracts green, ± leathery, 2–3 mm long, margins red, , inner ± as long as outer, obtuse or inner slightly emarginate. Flowers weakly zygomorphic with perianth radially symmetric and stamens and style unilateral, dull yellow to buff or brown to dull maroon, acrid-sweet or clove scented; perianth tube ± cylindric, 8–10 mm long; tepals subequal, ± elliptic, obtuse, 3–5 × ± 1.5–2.0 mm. Stamens unilateral, ± erect; filaments ± 3.5 mm long, exserted ± 1.5 mm; anthers 1.5–2 mm long, pollen dull yellow to buff. Style dividing between base and upper 1/3 of anthers, style branches ± 1 mm long, usually divided for up to 1/2 their length or undivided. Capsules top-shaped, triangular, 5–6 mm long, with up to 6 seeds per locule. Seeds ± ovoid, dark brown, 1.3–1.6 mm long, funicular appendage up to 0.5 mm long, surface reticulate. Chromosome number 2n = 20. Flowering time: late September to December.
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