Aristea africana Hoffmanns.

Plants mostly 100-150 mm high. Stem compressed, several-branched, sometimes ± dichotomously, sometimes simple. Leaves linear, 1.5-4.0 mm wide, relatively soft-textured, upper leaves with margins fringed near base. Flower clusters few in lax arrangement, each 3-to 6-flowered; spathes and bracts 8-12 mm long, green to brown in centre with wide silvery-translucent margins closely and deeply fringed, sometimes rust-coloured near tips. Flowers blue; tepals ± obovate, mostly 8-12 mm long. Filaments ± 4 mm long; anthers ± 2 mm long. Style 5-6 mm long, stigmatic lobes broad. Capsules deeply 3-winged, ± 8 mm long. Seeds lamellate, kidney-shaped, 2 per locule, sculpturing foveate, margins shortly papillate.