Description:
Plants 200–400(–500) mm high. Corm 35–65 mm diam.; tunics of densely matted fibres, with long fibrous collar. Stem slender to moderately stout, suberect, simple or rarely with 1 or 2 short suberect branches, 2–3 mm diam. Basal leaves 1 to 3, dry at flowering, blades lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 150–320 × 5–20 mm, acuminate, (2)3–5-veined, narrowed below (not pseudopetiolate); cauline leaves 4 or 5, lowermost small, leaf-like or subulate and clasping, upper 1 or 2 bract-like, dry and reddish brown. Spike moderately densely or laxly 3–10- flowered, 20–160 mm long, lateral spikes 1–3-flowered; bracts dry, brown, leathery, lanceolate, (12–)15–50 mm long, acute to acuminate, inner up to 9 mm longer than outer. Flowers zygomorphic, pale to deep salmon pink or mauve-pink, lower tepals with red median streak or line, unscented; perianth tube subcylindric or widening slightly and evenly from near base, straight or slightly curved, (20–)40–70 mm long; tepals unequal, dorsal arched over stamens and recurved distally, oblanceolate, 25–40 × 6–10 mm, obtuse or subacute, others suberect but recurved in distal half, oblanceolate-spathulate, 18–35 × 4–8 mm, lower 3 joined for 4–8 mm. Filaments arched, later suberect, 15–20 mm long; anthers 8–10 mm long purple, with recurved bipartite apiculus 1.5–2 mm long. Style (30–)60–90 mm long, dividing shortly below or beyond anther tips, branches 5–7 mm long. Capsules inflated, ellipsoid or ovoid, 20–30 × 10–12 mm. Seeds up to 8 mm long, usually broadly winged on angles at base and apex and narrowly so laterally. Flowering time: Mar.–May.
|