Plants 200-400 mm high. Corm ± globose, 12-18 mm diam.; tunics of fine, netted fibres. Stem simple or with 1 or 2 short, suberect branches. Leaves usually 4 to 6, all ± basal, linear to narrowly sword-shaped, ± as long as stem, (1.5-)4.0-10.0 mm wide, firm, often slightly twisted, uppermost leaf sheathing stem with short free apex. Main spike crowded, mostly 5-to 12-flowered, flexuose; bracts 6-8 mm long, dry, opaque, usually flushed pink, outer with 3 prominent veins, 3-toothed, central tooth sometimes much exceeding laterals, inner 2-veined, 2-toothed. Flowers rotate, red to deep pink (white), usually small, greenish white centre, faintly scented; perianth tube filiform, 3-6 mm long; tepals united basally for ± 1(2) mm, ± elliptic, obtuse, 16-24 x 5-12 mm, spreading. Filaments inserted at top of tube, 4-6 mm long, white; anthers ± linear, 6-8 mm long, white to creamy yellow. Style dividing opposite base to lower 1/3 of anthers, pale yellow, branches 3-4 mm long.
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Cormous geophyte, mostly 40-50 cm. Leaves usually linear. Flowers crowded terminally, deep pink (rarely red), slightly darker toward centre, pale yellow-green at base, tube filiform; faintly honey-suckle-scented.
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