Lapeirousia montana Klatt

Plants acaulescent, branched at base, forming compact tufts 30-50 mm high, including flowers. Corm bell-shaped, 8-10 mm diam.; tunics light brown, basal rim crenate. Stem underground. Leaves 1 or 2, lowermost always longest, linear, 80-180 mm x 2-3 mm, straight or falcate, remaining foliage floral bracts but often resembling leaves and identifiable as bracts by position. Inflorescence of several to many flowers in congested head-like structure borne at ground level, internodes very short but evident on dissection or in fruit; bracts leaf-like, wide and pale below for 15-25 mm, tapering to a green unifacial upper half resembling leaf blade and 15-40 mm long. Flowers actinomorphic, white to pale blue, then with lower third of tepals white, usually with dark blue triangular or diamond-shaped median mark near base, slightly scented of narcissus, lily or carnation; perianth tube cylindric, (25-)32-45(-55) mm long, with filaments decurrent as intrusive ridges dividing tube into 3 compartments and ± blocking tube in lower half; tepals subequal, lanceolate, (10-)12-15 x 4-5 mm, spreading horizontally or deflexed up to 30° below horizontal. Stamens symmetrically disposed around style; filaments exserted 2-3 mm from tube; anthers erect, 3-4 mm long, ± white; pollen white to ivory-coloured. Ovary oblong, 4-5 mm long; style straight and erect, usually dividing opposite middle to just below anther tips; style branches divided for 1/2 their length, 1.8-2.5 mm long. Capsules ± ovoid, 8-10 mm long, showing outline of seeds. Seeds globose, dark brown, ± 2 mm diam., with reticulate sculpturing.