Rhizomes superficial or very shallow, cordlike portion 1–2 dm × 2 mm, expanding to 10–15 mm diam., nodes with brown, scalelike leaves and few to no roots. Stems 1–2-branched, 3–3.2 dm. Leaves: basal with blade pale green, 3.2 dm × 1.5 cm, margins scarious basally, apex acute, proximal 2 semi-sheathing, blade 5 cm, scarious; cauline 1–2, sheathing branch and stem for ca. 1/2 their length, blade ca. 5 cm, semimembranous. Inflorescences 2–3-branched, each unit with single flower, all borne at approximately the same level; spathes 2–3 cm × 5 mm, subequal, scarious except basally and along midrib. Flowers: perianth white or blue tinged with deep violet lines; floral tube funnelform, 0.3 cm; sepals oblong-spatulate, 2.8 × 1 cm, apex deeply emarginate, signal an inconspicuous crest with low, yellow, undissected ridge; petals bluish white, oblanceolate-spatulate, base gradually attenuate into claw; ovary elliptical, 0.4–0.7 cm; style 1.8 cm, crests broadly obovate, 0.7 cm, margins erose; stigmas triangular-acuminate, margins entire; pedicel 0.4–1 cm, not lifting flower clear of spathes. Capsules depressed-globose, roundly triangular, 0.9–1.5 × 1.2 cm. Seeds pale brown, with whitish raphe, D-shaped, pitted. 2n = 28.
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