Ixia capillaris Thunb.

Plants 200-350(-500) mm high, sheathed at base by chestnut-brown (green) cataphylls. Corm globose, 8-12(-15) mm diam.; tunics of fine to medium-textured, netted fibres. Stem slender, usually with thin collar of fibres around base; usually with 1 to 3 lateral branches, rarely unbranched, then with 1 or more scale-like bracts on stem; branchlets mostly 8-15 mm long, filiform, curving outward, subtended by translucent, irregularly lobed, attenuate bracts and prophylls 2-3 mm long. Leaves 3, lower 2 linear, 1.2-2.0 mm wide, 1/3-2/3 as long as stem, main vein not raised when fresh, margins occasionally slightly raised, uppermost leaf sheathing stem, sometimes to base of spike. Spike drooping above, (1)2-or 3-flowered, lateral branchlets 1-or 2(3)-flowered; bracts translucent with dark veins, 7-10 mm long, outer 3-toothed, inner notched apically. Flowers ± nodding, pale blue to pale mauve, white or creamy yellow, evidently unscented; perianth tube funnel-shaped, (4-)5-7(-8) mm long; tepals subequal, 11-15 x 4-7 mm, spreading. Filaments ± 5 mm long, usually exserted 1-2 mm from tube, rarely reaching only to mouth of tube; anthers (3-)4-5 mm long. Style usually dividing between middle and upper third of anthers, branches 1-2 mm long.