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Description:
Plants 120–200(–280) mm high. Stem usually largely subterranean, with 1 or 2 branches produced close to ground level, smooth. Leaves ascending-horizontal, borne obliquely to sheath and stem, blade broadly lanceolate, (40–)70–110 × 18–25 mm, exceeding spike, scabrid to papillate on veins and margins, rough to touch, obscurely plicate but with 3–5 main veins. Spike decumbent, close to ground level, congested, 3–5-flowered; bracts lightly striate, green with brown apices, shortly hairy on veins, 23–35 mm long, inner slightly shorter to ± as long as outer, forked apically. Flowers zygomorphic, bilabiate, pale gray-green, upper tepals each with slate-blue median streak, red-lined in throat, lower 3 tepals with white spear-shaped markings outlined in dull reddish maroon, sweetly violet-scented; perianth tube 20–24 mm long, slender below, curving outward and wider in upper 7 mm; tepals unequal, dorsal 28–32 × ± 5 mm, arching over stamens, upper laterals ± 28 × 4 mm, joined to lower for ± 5 mm, lower tepals 18–24 mm long. Stamens unilateral; filaments arched, ± 16 mm long; anthers ± 5 mm long, lilac, pollen grey-white. Ovary smooth; style dividing opposite lower 1/3 of anthers, branches ± 2 mm long. Flowering time: June and July.
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