Plants up to 150 mm high, including leaves. Stem short or subterranean, closely 2-to 4-branched, usually forming small tufts. Leaves several in basal tuft, linear, pleated, shortly velvety, 2-4 mm wide. Spike congested, 3-to 8-flowered; bracts dry, membranous, pale with brown flecks, 30-35 mm long, tapering to attenuate, awn-like tips, with brown central vein, inner ± as long as outer, usually divided for ± 2/3 its length. Flowers actinomorphic, pale or deep blue-purple (rarely white), tepals often darker toward base and with white markings, throat usually white, unscented; perianth tube filiform, straight, 35-45 mm long, thick walled and tightly enclosing style; tepals subequal, narrowly lanceolate, 26-32 x 5-6 mm, spreading at ± 70° from vertical when fully open. Stamens symmetrically arranged; filaments erect, surrounding style, ± 7 mm long; anthers ± 8 mm long, straight, weakly diverging, later arching inward, light mauve; pollen cream-coloured. Ovary smooth; style dividing opposite lower half of anthers, branches slender, ± 2.5 mm long.
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Acaulescent, cormous geophyte to 15 mm, with stems reaching ground level. Leaves firm, linear, erect, tightly plicate. Flowers several in short, erect spikes, actinomorphic, purple with a darker centre, anthers erect, pollen cream-coloured, bracts dry, papery, attenuate, inner bracts divided almost to base, ovary smooth.
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