Description:
Plants 150–350 mm high, stem simple or with 1 branch produce in axil of cauline leaf. Corm 9–15 mm in diam., tunics of hard, coarse fibres, netted above, thickened and vertical below, often forming claw-like ridges. Leaves 5–7, mostly in a basal fan, uppermost inserted in middle of stem, narrowly lanceolate, obliquely apiculate, reaching to between middle of stem and base of spike, 5–15 mm wide, sheathing lower part of stem. Spike weakly flexuose, subsecund, 2–4-flowered; bracts pale below with whitish veins, becoming irregularly streaked light brown above, outer 15–25 mm long, ± 3 cuspidate with central cusp prominent, becoming irregularly lacerate, inner ± as long as outer, with 2 prominent cusps. Flowers zygomorphic, creamy yellow with dorsal tepal violet in upper half and lower tepals deep yellow fading to cream at tips, abaxial half of throat streaked yellow and violet, unscented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, upper part curving outward, (12–)15–16 mm long; tepals unequal, dorsal largest, erect to slightly hooded, (10)15–16 × 9–10 mm, upper laterals ± 12 mm long, directed forwards, lower three tepals united basally for ± 2 mm, ± horizontal below, ± 10 mm long, channelled and flexed downward distally. Stamens unilateral, arcuate, filaments ± 13 mm long, white, anthers violet above, cream below, ± 3 mm long, fully exserted, pollen ± white. Ovary 4–5 mm long, oblong-trigonous, style arched over filaments, purple, dividing just below or opposite anther bases, branches ± 2 mm long, ascending, recurved distally, ciliate along margins ± to base, slightly expanded distally. Capsules barrel-shaped, ± 12 × 6–7 mm. Seeds 1.7–2.1 mm diam., light brown, (8)9 or 10 per locule. Chromosome number 2n = 20. Flowering time: mid August to late September.
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