Plant 60-140 cm tall. Basal leaves 2-5; lamina flat, rather thick, 1-4 mm wide, rarely to 5 mm. Inflorescence paniculate, with widely divergent, usually slender branches; flowers grouped 2-5 together, concentrated mainly at top of inflorescence but a few on short branches below; bracteoles relatively translucent, brown or blackish brown in centre, the veins evident abaxially, the margins gradually differentiated, broad, membranous, brown or greyish; upper bracteole obtuse or acute, reaching to, or slightly below, petal tips. Flowers 9-12 mm long, black, brown or greenish brown. Sepals slightly shorter than petals. Stamens equal; anthers versatile, borne at c. middle of petals, 3-4.6 mm long. Style at anthesis slightly shorter than petals or exserted up to 1.5 mm.
Grows in eucalypt forest and woodland, in dry or seasonally damp situations, and also in shrubland in shallow soil over rock or swampy soil.
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