Plant 50-95 cm tall. Basal leaves usually 3 or 4, occasionally 2; lamina flat, 5.5-22 mm wide. Inflorescence paniculate; branches widely divergent; flowers in groups of 2 or 3, concentrated at top of inflorescence; bracteoles relatively translucent, brown in centre with conspicuous veins, the margins gradually or not differentiated, membranous, usually brown, sometimes grey; upper bracteole obtuse, slightly shorter to longer than petals. Flowers 9.3-11 mm long, black or brownish black. Sepals a little shorter than petals. Stamens equal; anthers versatile, borne about middle of petals, 3.4-4 mm long. Style at anthesis slightly shorter than petals or exserted up to 2 mm.
Grows in low shrubland, usually in lateritic soil with a shallow surface layer of grey sand, occasionally in deep, white, grey or brown sand.
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