Iphigenia indica (L.) Kunth

Corm usually ± globose, 5-10 mm ø. Leaves linear-lanceolate, often with a single conspicuous vein and 2-8 rather inconspicuous ones, the longest c. 10-40 cm long, up to 6 mm wide, the shortest often less than a quarter of the length of the longest; lower leaf bases sometimes pubescent, glandular pubescent or scabrid, especially on the veins. Flowers 1-3. Pedicels erect or erect-spreading 5-40 mm. Perianth segments ± spreading, narrowly oblanceolate (inner whorl sometimes narrower than the outer), 5-9 by up to 2 mm, dark-brown or red-brown, reddish, purplish or white, described by Backer (1924) as having a green keel and apex. Filaments linear, up to half as long as the perianth, green basally, brown distally; anthers dorsifixed, c. 0.5-1 mm long. Ovary obovoid to ovoid, c. 1.5-2.5 mm long; styles recurved, c. 1 mm. Capsule c. 10-20 mm long; seeds c. 1.5 mm ø.

A rather uncommon species of open, often poor grassland, always under seasonal climatic conditions. In Java only in the lowland but elsewhere also in the hills, in N. Sumatra at c. 1000 m. Flowers are reported by Backer (1924) to occur for a short period during the rainy period (Dec-Jan.) in Java, with fruit ripening in March, after which the aerial parts soon wither and disappear. Elsewhere other flowering dates have been noted from July to August, N of the equator, where seasons are reversed.

The bulbs are cooked and eaten.