Babiana rubella Goldblatt & J.C.Manning

Plants 100-120 mm high. Stem extending above ground level and inclined, simple or with one branch, covered by leaf sheaths, densely long-hairy where exposed; sheathed below by a thick collar of fibres. Leaves broadly lanceolate to ovate, blade held obliquely to ± at right angles to short, broad, imbricate leaf sheaths, lightly plicate, veins and margins densely long-hairy, hairs up to 4 mm long, sheaths hairy or almost hairless. Spike suberect to inclined, (2)3-to 6-flowered; bracts green, densely hairy, apices dry and rust-brown, 15-24 mm long, inner ± as long as outer, forked apically or to ± middle, or transparent in upper mid-line. Flowers zygomorphic, bilabiate, pale to deep pinkish purple, lower lateral tepals yellow with pink tips, lightly rose-scented; perianth tube 12-15 mm long; dorsal tepal 28-30 x ± 8-9 mm, lower tepals joined to upper laterals for ± 5 mm and to one another for ± 3 mm, upper laterals ± 24 mm long, 23-25 mm long, lower margins crisped. Stamens unilateral; filaments arched, ± 14 mm long; anthers ± 4.5 mm long, pale blue; pollen white. Ovary smooth, ± 3 mm long; style arching over stamens.