Rhizomes freely branching, producing extensive clumps, 1–2.5 cm diam. Stems declining or semi-erect, sharply zigzag, with short branch at each of 2–3 bends, leaf at every bend, flower bud at every bend, solid, 2.5–3 dm. Leaves: basal erect, spreading, or prostrate, blade deep green, ensiform, 3.5–7 dm × 1.5–3.5 cm, somewhat glaucous; cauline at each of 2–3 nodes, subtending and exceeding short branch and flower, blade 2–6 dm. Inflorescences with terminal unit 2-flowered, each short branch unit 1-flowered; spathes foliaceous, lanceolate, 3–5 cm, subequal, apex acute; outer green, exceeding inner; inner partly scarious. Flowers: perianth rich blue or blue-violet; floral tube funnelform, 1–2 cm; sepals ovate, 7.5–9 × 2.5–3 cm, base abruptly attenuate, claw light greenish yellow with darker veins, with prominent yellow midrib and large, yellow-white signal at union of limb and claw; petals erect or spreading-erect, lighter blue than sepals, oblanceolate, 5–6.5 × 1.5–2 cm; ovary prominently 6-angled, 1–1.3 cm; style greenish, 3.5–4 cm, crests reflexed, semiovoid to subquadrate, 1.2–1.5 cm, margins irregularly toothed or entire; stigmas 2-lobed, lobes rounded-deltoid; pedicel 1–1.3 cm. Capsules hexagonal to almost circular in cross section with 6 equally placed ribs, with short beak at apex, 3–5 × 2–2.5 cm. Seeds in 2 rows per locule, light brown, irregularly circular, flattened, 3–5 mm, very corky. 2n = 42, 44.
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Lvs numerous, ensiform, to 7 dm; stem strongly zigzag, often decumbent, 2–4 dm, conspicuously shorter than the lvs; fls 8–10 cm wide, light violet to lavender; sep with a white-variegated area at the base of the ovate blade around the yellow papillose crest, the claw as long as the blade, greenish-white with green veins; pet oblanceolate to spatulate; fr ovoid to ellipsoid-ovoid, indehiscent; 2n=42. Swamps, low woods, and shores; O. and e. Kans. to La. and Ky. May, June.
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