Ixia metelerkampiae L.Bolus

Plants 350-750 mm high. Corm ± globose, 10-20 mm diam.; tunics of fine, netted fibres extending upward in a collar around base. Stem simple or subdivaricately 1-or 2-branched. Leaves 5 to 9, ± half as long as stem, 1-6 mm wide, ± linear to narrowly lanceolate, ± straight, main vein and margins slightly thickened. Spike closely 5-to 14-flowered; bracts ± orbicular, truncate or obtuse, pellucid, 4-5 x 5-7 mm long, outer 1-or 3-toothed, inner slightly shorter, 2-toothed. Flowers ± rotate or bell-shaped, pale pink to mauve or purple, tepals marked red to purple near base and in midline; perianth tube filiform, 3-4 mm long; tepals slightly ascending, united in basal 1-2 mm, obovate to elliptic, 14-22 x 6-12 mm. Filaments 4-5 mm long; anthers 5-6 mm long, yellow. Style dividing opposite apex of filaments to lower 1/3 of anthers, branches 3-4 mm long.