Aristea montana Baker

Plants mostly 120-300 mm high. Stem strongly compressed, 2-or 3-angled below first flower cluster, simple or with 1 or 2 short branches, lateral flower clusters sessile. Leaves mostly basal, linear to narrowly lanceolate or falcate, 3-7 mm wide, ± half as long as stem, firm-textured, cauline leaves smaller, sometimes entirely sheathing. Flower clusters usually 2 to 6 per axis, sessile except the terminal or those at the lower nodes shortly stalked, each (2)4-flowered; spathes 8-12 mm long, initially green below, becoming dry and rust-brown with pale dry margins, becoming lacerate; inner spathes and bracts shorter, dry, becoming irregularly lacerate. Flowers deep blue, ± sessile or pedicels up to 2 mm long; tepals obovate, mostly 8-10 x 4-8 mm. Filaments 3.0-4.5 mm long; anthers ± 2.5 mm long. Style up to 7 mm long, deflexed, with deltoid apical lobes. Capsules ± ovoid, weakly 3-lobed, 6-10 mm long, ± sessile or on pedicels up to 2 mm long. Seeds angular-prismatic, sculpturing foveate.