Perennial herb.. Rhizome 4-7 mm. in diameter when dry; scales brown, scarious, appressed pilose on the lower half.. Leafy stem borne laterally on the rhizome, erect, bearing a few reduced leaves and (3-)4 imbricate, cruciately-arranged normal leaves which lie flat on the ground.. Lamina of normal leaves obovate, 8-19 × 8.5-16.5 cm., apex obtuse, with a broad cuneate base, glabrous above, appressed pubescent beneath, green with a pink margin.. Inflorescence developing with the leaves or just before them, but flowering continued until leaves are almost fully developed, terminal in the centre of the leaf-rosette, 6-10-flowered, usually with only 1 flower open at a time; floral bracts delicate, elliptic, acute, ± 1.7 × 0.5 cm.. Calyx spathaceous, delicate, 4.5-5 cm. long, glabrous.. Corolla-tube 7-9 cm. long; petals narrowly elliptic, acuminate, 6-8 cm. long, pubescent near the apex, yellow; labellum large, delicate, yellow, 8-11 cm. long.. Fertile stamen ligulate, petaloid, narrowed above the anthers; anthers 9-13 mm. long.. Fruit subterranean, otherwise unknown.. Seeds unknown.
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