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Description:
Plants large, 350–600 mm high, with collar of fine fibres around base. Corm deep seated, to 25 cm below ground, compressed-globose, ± 20 mm diam.; tunics of fine fibres. Stem leafless for 100–150 mm above ground, several-branched. Leaves 3–6, inserted well above ground level, lower exceeding stem, linear, channelled, trailing distally, ± 10 mm wide. Rhipidial spathes green below, dry and brown distally, attenuate, inner 40–50 mm long, outer ± 2/3 as long. Flowers fugaceous, large, yellow, outer tepal limbs with deeper yellow nectar guides edged with light brown at bases; outer tepals 25–40 mm long, limbs lanceolate, ± spreading, claw short, ± 5 mm long; inner tepals 22–35 mm long, spreading. Filaments ± 8 mm long, united near base; anthers 8–10 mm long, exceeding stigma lobes; pollen bright red. Ovary ovoid, 6–8 mm long, style branches ± 12 mm long, crests 15–20 mm long. Capsules subglobose, up to 15 × ± 8 mm diam., showing outline of seeds, ± nodding. Seeds ± globose, slightly angled by pressure. Chromosome number 2n = 16. Flowering time: October; flowers opening near midday and fading at sunset.
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