Aristea torulosa Klatt

Plants 300-700 mm high. Stem lightly compressed, more so below, simple or with 1 or 2(4) slender branches at lower nodes of synflorescence, with few to several sessile lateral flower clusters in upper half. Leaves mostly basal, linear to narrowly lanceolate or falcate, 3-7 mm wide, ± 1/3 to 1/2 as long as stem, firm-textured, cauline leaves smaller, sometimes entirely sheathing. Flower clusters several per axis in lax or rarely crowded spicate arrangement, each mostly 4-to 6-flowered (rarely 8-flowered), lower flower clusters often subtended by a prominent bract-like spathe 9-12 mm long; spathes and bracts green becoming dry and brown below, pale membranous above feathered with brown, lacerate with age. Flowers pale to deep blue, ± sessile; tepals obovate, 10-14 mm long, outer slightly smaller than inner. Filaments suberect, ± 3 mm long; anthers 2.0-2.5 mm long. Style 5-6 mm long, with deltoid apical lobes. Capsules ellipsoid-ovoid and 3-lobed, 5-6(-7) mm long, ± sessile (or on pedicels up to 2 mm long). Seeds angular-prismatic, foveate-reticulate.