Plants single or rarely with 2-3 bodies. Sheath whitish, quickly flaking and separating into layers but persistent; body 13-25 x 20-25 x 20-25 mm, broadly ovate, flat toward the base, round or oval seen from above and sometimes deeply indented or scalloped around the base.; epidermis glabrous, remarkably translucent, shiny, appearing pale grey-green to deep purple-red, crystal layer absent, chlorophyll layer entirely confined to the basal portion and thus invisible, basal cells notably larger and more convex than those found near at the apex; fissure narrow, often inconspicuous, eccentrically placed, 2-4 mm long, glabrous. Flower autumnal, diurnal, often rupturing the body, opening briefly in the late afternoon, honey-scented. Calyx-tube 4-5 mm long, sepals 6, greenish white with very thin margins; corolla-tube 10 mm long, exceeding the calyx-tube, petals 24-52 in 2-3 series, 7-18 mm long, 3 mm wide, purplish-rose, white toward the base, stamens 3-seriate, numerous, filaments very delicate, to 10 mm long, whitish, anthers rich yellow; stigmas free, 6, 10-14 mm long, depressed obovate, seeds 0.35 x 0.30 x 0.25 mm, sparsely pustulate, pustules scattered and dark.
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