Babiana engysiphon J.C.Manning & Goldblatt

Plants 60-100 mm high, including leaves. Stem reaching shortly above ground level, flexed at ground level and inclined, simple or 1(2)-branched, velvety. Leaves mostly 5 to 7, ± linear to narrowly sword-shaped, 3-4 mm wide, widest in upper 1/3, shallowly pleated to almost flat, minutely velvety. Spike horizontal, compact, (2-)4-to 8-flowered; bracts green, with light brown attenuate tips, velvety to lightly hairy, outer 15-25 mm long, lightly keeled, inner ± 2/3 to ± as long as outer, margins membranous, divided to base or almost so, or joined in lower 1/3 by transparent membranous tissue. Flowers zygomorphic, dark violet, lower lateral tepals with broad white to pale yellow blotch near base, odourless; perianth tube elongate, (30-)35-40 mm long, gently upcurving, cylindric, slightly expanded at apex; tepals unequal, dorsal largest, 22-27 x 7-8 mm, recurved in upper half, lower 3 tepals joined to upper laterals for 4-5 mm and to one another for ± 2 mm in a prominent lip, 15-16 x 6 mm. Stamens unilateral; filaments 10-12 mm long, well exserted; anthers 5-6 mm long. Ovary softly hairy; style dividing opposite anther tips, branches ± 3 mm long, filiform throughout.