Leaves ensiform-linear, 3--10 cm, 2--5 mm wide at middle, veins 10--22. Scapes 3--20, ca. 15 cm, 5-ribbed; sheath 2--7 cm; receptacle glabrous; heads white, usually with black, triangular patches, globose, 5--6 mm in diam.; involucral bracts re-flexed, straw-colored, ovate to obovate, 1.5--2 mm in diam., membranous, subglabrous; floral bracts black, obovate to oblanceolate, 1.5--2.5 mm, adaxially glabrescent, abaxially densely white clavate hairy toward apex, hairs early deciduous. Male flowers: sepals black, 1.5--2 mm, free or 3-cleft, abaxially white hairy toward apex; petals (2 or)3, oblanceolate-spatulate, anterior one slightly larger than others, white hairy, gland black or brown; anthers black. Female flowers: sepals 3, blackish, free, posterior one flat, lateral ones oblanceolate-boatlike, abaxially densely white clavate hairy toward apex; petals 3, oblanceolate-spatulate, equal or anterior one slightly larger than others, densely white hairy, gland black, large; ovary (2 or)3-loculed; style 3-cleft. Seeds subglobose, ca. 0.5 mm; testa hexagonally reticulate, prickles borne on edge of cells, linear. Fl. and fr. Mar--Jun.
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