Plants 350-500(-720) mm high. Corm obconic, 20-30 mm diam.; tunics of medium-textured fibres, accumulating in a dense mass. Stem lightly flexed outward above sheaths of upper 2 leaves, simple or 1-branched, 1.5-2.0 mm diam. at base of spike. Leaves 3 or 4, lower 2 basal, reaching to ± base of spike, terete and narrowly 4-grooved, 1.0-2.5 mm diam., main vein and margins thickened and raised, second leaf sheathing lower third of stem, cauline leaves entirely sheathing. Spike ± straight and erect, 5-to 10(12)-flowered; bracts tinged reddish, ± dry and brown after flowering, outer (8-)10-25 mm long, inner slightly shorter. Flowers pale mauve or pinkish, lower tepals with white markings outlined with purple, unscented; perianth tube narrowly and obliquely funnel-shaped, 25-35(-40) mm long, narrow and cylindric below, widening in upper 6-10 mm, curved outward above; tepals oblanceolate, dorsal largest, hooded over stamens, 20-25 x 15-22 mm, upper laterals curving outward distally, 15-22(-25) x 9-13 mm, lower 3 held close together, shortly united with upper laterals, free parts 15-20 mm long, narrowed below into claws, limbs of lower laterals 6-10 mm wide, lowermost 7-12 mm wide. Filaments (9-)10-14 mm long, exserted 5-7 mm from tube; anthers 5-9 mm long, pale yellow. Style arching over stamens, dividing opposite anther tips, branches 3-6 mm long. Capsules ellipsoid, 8-12 mm long. Seeds angular-prismatic and unevenly winged, lateral and lower wings reduced or vestigial.
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