Ixia curta Andrews

Plants 150-400 mm high. Corm ± globose, 10-15 mm diam.; tunics of fine, netted fibres. Stem simple or with 1 short, spreading branch. Leaves 4 to 6, lanceolate, straight or somewhat twisted, 2/3 to ± as long as stem, mostly 3-6 mm wide, decreasing in size above, uppermost largely sheathing. Spike closely 3-to 8-flowered; bracts 7-10 mm long, dry, pallid speckled with brown distally, outer 3-toothed with longer central tooth, inner 2-veined, 2-toothed. Flowers salver-shaped, orange with brown or greenish or red central marking, unscented; perianth tube cylindric, 10-15 mm long; tepals ± elliptic, subequal, spreading, 20-25 x 10-15 mm. Filaments 3-4 mm long, usually united entirely, brown; anthers ± erect, 9-10 mm long, yellow; pollen yellow. Style dividing between base and middle of anthers, branches 2-3 mm long.