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Description:
Plants (70–)100–300 mm high. Corm subglobose, 10–14 mm diam., bearing 1–few sessile cormlets at base; tunics of medium-textured to fine, dark, wiry, netted fibres. Leaves 3, lower 2 linear to narrowly sword-shaped or falcate,(2–)3–5 mm wide, ± 1/3 as long as stem, margins and main vein moderately thickened, uppermostleaf sheathing lower 1/2 of stem. Stem suberect, usually with 1–3 short, twisted branchlets mostly held at 60–90º to main axis. Main spike conspicuously flexuose, bent at base and inclined to ± horizontal, 2–6-flowered, lateral spikes 1–6-flowered; bractsmostly 7–9 mm long, translucent, often flushed brown or purple, outer 3-veined, bluntly 3-lobed apically, inner 2-veined, forked apically. Flowers upright, purple (or said to be blue) with a yellow cup sometimes edged with a band of dark purple, unscented; perianth tubefunnel-shaped, 9–13(–14) mm long; tepals subequal, 9–12 × (4.5–)6.0–8.0 mm. Filaments ± 3 mm long, included; anthers 3–4 mm long, lower 1/2 to 1/3 included in tube. Style dividing opposite middle of anthers, branches ± 1 mm long, extending between anthers. Flowering time: mid-September to October.
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