Perennial herb with leafy stems to 1.5 m. from a thin rhizome.. Lamina narrowly acuminate, 12.5-20 cm. long, 2-3 cm. wide, apex acuminate, base cuneate, glabrous; ligule narrowly triangular, membranous, up to 2 cm. long and 5 mm. wide; sheaths sulcate.. Inflorescences 8-10-flowered, arising from the base of the leafy stems; peduncle ± 7 cm. long, densely yellowish pubescent towards the apex; basal bracts scarious, glabrous, ± 5 mm. long and 15 mm. wide, bilobed at the apex; apical bracts chartaceous, sparsely appressed pubescent, up to 15 mm. long and wide, rounded at the apex.. Flowers inserted at 3-5 mm. intervals along the elongated apex of the peduncle, each subtended by a bract up to 15 mm. long.. Calyx spathaceous, 2.5 cm. long, bi-lobed, sparsely pubescent.. Petals mauve with darker striations, laterals oblong, up to 26 mm. long and 9 mm. wide, obtuse, the posterior elliptic, up to 26 mm. long and 12 mm. wide, rounded at the apex.. Labellum up to 6 cm. long, the free portion ± 25 mm. wide, obovate.. Free filament ligulate, ± 12 mm. long; anther terminal, 9-11 mm. long, glabrous, completely dehiscent.. Style glabrous; stigma trumpet-shaped with a ciliate margin; ovary pubescent.. Fruit ovoid, 4-5 cm. long (including beak 4 mm. long), 2.5-3 cm. in diameter, covered with irregular longitudinal and transverse ridges.. Seeds oblong, ± 6 × 4 mm., transversely ridged.
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