Plants ± acaulescent, 50-100 mm high, including leaves. Stem reaching shortly above ground level, unbranched, sheathed below by collar of coarse fibres. Leaves erect, narrowly lanceolate, up to 100 mm long, exceeding flowers, shallowly pleated, finely hairy. Spike decumbent, 2-to 5-flowered; bracts pale green with dry light brown tips, finely hairy, 40-50 mm long, inner slightly longer than outer, forked apically. Flowers zygomorphic, carmine red to red-purple, lower lateral tepals with broad, spear-shaped creamy yellow blotches, unscented; perianth tube slightly curved, 56-60 mm long, ± cylindric below, 36-40 mm long, widening abruptly and curving outward, upper 17-20 mm ± horizontal, cylindric, ± 6 mm diam.; tepals unequal, dorsal 40-48 x 9-13 mm, lower 3 tepals united basally for 2-4 mm, 35-40 x 10 mm. Stamens unilateral; filaments somewhat enlarged below, ± 40 mm long, exserted ± 20 mm from tube, dark pink; anthers ± 9 mm long. Ovary smooth; style usually dividing between base and middle of anthers, branches ± 6 mm long. Capsules ovoid, 10-14 mm long; mature seeds unknown.
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Stemless, cormous geophyte, up to 100 mm tall. Leaves crowded at base, lanceolate, pleated, velvety hairy, overtopping the flowers. Flowers borne at ground level, 2-5 mm a decumbent spike, bilabiate, dark red with yellow nectar guides, perianth tube elongate, curved and flaring in upper half, 56-60 mm long, dorsal tepal largest, hooded, ovary smooth, bracts finely hairy, with inner forked apically.
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