Ferraria variabilis Goldblatt & J.C.Manning

Plants 60-200(-300) mm high. Stem often branched just above base, branches crowded and ± equal in length, often forming small tufts. Leaves sword-shaped to linear, usually ± as long as stem, sometimes up to twice as long, (2-)3-15(-22) mm wide, mostly subbasal, without visible midrib, often slightly striate, margins often slightly thickened, rarely obscurely crisped, sheaths usually overlapping and concealing stem. Rhipidia 2-flowered; spathes glaucous-green, inner mostly 60-75 mm long, outer slightly shorter to ± as half as long, entirely sheathing or arching outward in distal 1/3. Flowers on pedicels 10-15 mm long; predominantly pale to dull yellowish to pale or mid-brown, or dull grey-blue, limbs with solid dark brown to blackish purple at base, or with scattered dark spots, margins darker or paler in colour, claws uniformly pale or with dark longitudinal streaks or with a broad darker median streak, forming a floral cup 12-15 mm deep, 13-15 mm wide at rim, usually slightly putrid smelling, nectaries usually basal, rarely in pouches in centre of claws, pale or dark coloured; outer tepals 30-40(-45) x 10-15 mm, claws 10-15 mm long; inner tepals 25-40(-45) x 8-10 mm. Filaments united in a column 8-13 mm long, free and arching outward in the upper 2-4 mm; anthers 3.5-5.0 mm long, shorter after dehiscence, thecae joined only at apices, usually widely diverging (rarely almost parallel). Ovary ellipsoid, 15-20 mm long, with sterile beak 5-8 mm long; style branches 2-3 mm long, dividing into diverging, prominently fringed arms, ± 4 mm long; stigmas on small lobes below tips of style arms and arching over anthers. Capsules ellipsoid, 30-50 mm long. Seeds rounded, usually angled by pressure, dull-coloured and lightly wrinkled.