Description:
Plants 400–600 mm high. Corm 10–14 mm diam.; tunics hard and woody, splitting from below into claw-like segments. Stem erect or inclined below, upper portion inclined at ± 20°, flexed outward above sheaths of upper 2 leaves, unbranched. Leaves 4, lowermost basal and sheathing lower part of stem, sheath often scabrid below, reaching to between base and apex of spike, linear, 3–7 mm wide, margins raised at right angles to surface, thus H-shaped in section, edges smooth, main vein lightly raised, cauline leaves progressively shorter above and sheathing for at least 1/2 their length, sheaths closed. Spike (4)8–10(14)-flowered, flexed at base, weakly flexuose; bracts greyish green to dull purple-grey, with narrowly membranous margins, 25–35(–40) mm long, inner shorter, margins broadly membranous, barely notched at apex. Flowers pale blue, abaxial side of throat and lower 2/3 of lowertepals irregularly speckled with dark purple on a cream background, lightly scented; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, ± 15 mm long; tepals obovate and obtuse, dorsal largest, 30–32 × ± 20 mm, curving outward distally, upper laterals spreading distally, ± 25 × 17 mm, lower 3 tepals joined to upper laterals for ± 6 mm and together for a further 2–3 mm, tapering toward bases, subequal, ± 20 × 8–10 mm, obtuse, arching gently outward. Filaments ± 12 mm long, exserted ± 6 mm from tube; anthers 9–10 mm long, pale blue; pollen cream or pale blue. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite or shortly beyond anther apices, branches ± 4 mm long. Capsules ellipsoid, ± 15 mm long. Seeds ovate, 5–7 × ± 4 mm, broadly and evenly winged. Flowering time: August to mid September.
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