Plants 9--45 cm tall. Leaves (2--)4--6, ( forming a rosette at apex of pseudostem; ligule ca. 0.5 mm; leaf blade narrowly lanceolate to linear, usually falcate, (5--)10--22 × 0.4--2 cm, glabrous, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence with peduncle enclosed by or shortly exserted from leaf sheaths; bracts elliptic, 3.3--7 cm, basal one tubular. Flowers purple or white, usually opening one at a time. Calyx 3--4 cm, apex 2-toothed. Corolla tube 4--4.5 cm; central lobe elliptic, 1.7--3.5 cm, apex apiculate; lateral lobes linear-oblong, 2--3.5 cm. Lateral staminodes obovate to rhombic, 1.5--2.5 cm. Labellum not reflexed, obovate, 1.8--3.5 × 1--2.5 cm, apically 2-cleft for ca. 1/2 its length; lobes emarginate at apex. Anther yellow, locules 6--9 mm; connective spur 8--9 mm. Stigma funnelform, abruptly hooked. Fl. Jul--Aug.