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Description
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Plants (200–)300–600(–800) mm high. Corm subglobose, 15–30 mm diam., sometimes deep-seated; tunics of fine-textured fibres, sometimes with a papery neck. Stem erect or inclined outward above, usually unbranched or 1- or 2-branched from near middle. Leaves 4–8, linear, suberect in a loose fan, weakly twisted toward tips, as long as stem or slightly longer, (50–)100–300(–450) × (1–)2–4(–6) mm, acute to acuminate, striate with main vein moderately thickened and with 3 or 4 other vein pairs also slightly thickened, without prominently thickened submarginal vein, cauline leaves smaller and sheathing, uppermost sometimes concealed by upper foliage leaf. Spike suberect, moderately lax, subsecund, 5–12-flowered; bracts dry-membranous, translucent or purplish, flushed dark reddish brown, speckled in upper 1/3 or at tips, outer (6–)8–12(–15) mm long, acute or 3-toothed, inner ± as long or shorter, bifid. Flowers zygomorphic, reddish-orange to bright red with pale yellowish throat and yellow spot on lower tepals surrounding callus; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 10–15 mm long, lower cylindric part 3–6 mm long, widening to 6–8 mm diam.; tepals unequal, obovate, dorsal larger and slightly hooded over anthers, often paler inside, upper laterals spreading and lower tepals deflexed, upper tepals 13–18 × 5–10(–15) mm, lower tepals 10–15 × 5–8 mm, each with a quadrate yellow callus 2–4 mm high near base. Filaments unilateral, arcuate, 12–14 mm long, shortly exserted up to 6 mm; anthers 5–6 mm long, often curved, cream to violet. Style dividing opposite upper 1/2 of anthers, branches 2–3 mm long. Capsules subglobose to shortly ellipsoid, 7–10 mm long. Flowering time: (December) February to March (June).
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