A terrestrial herb 2–6 dm. high, glabrous except for the roots.. Tubers globose to ovoid, 1.5–2 cm. long, 1–2 cm. in diameter, ± tomentose.. Roots slender, flexuous, pubescent.. Flowering stem erect, rather slender to stout, with sheaths all along its length; sheaths (or sheathing leaves) 6–10, the upper ones overlapping, lanceolate, acute, up to 3–8 cm. long and 1–2.5 cm. broad; sterile stem much shorter with 2 sheathing leaves, the terminal leaf lanceolate, acute, 5 cm. long, 1.6 cm. broad.. Inflorescence cylindrical, 5–14 cm. long, 2.5–3.5 cm. in diameter, rather densely 13-to many-flowered; bracts soon reflexed, lanceolate, acute, 1–2.5 cm. long, the lowest ones sometimes longer than the flowers.. Flowers curving outwards until nearly horizontal, pink to scarlet; pedicel with ovary ± curved, scarcely 1 cm. long.. Sepals and petals decurved, united to one another and to the lip in their basal third.. Intermediate sepal narrowly elliptical-oblong, rounded, 12–13 mm. long, 2–2.5 mm. broad; laterals obliquely oblong-elliptical, obtuse, ± as long as intermediate, 3–4 mm. broad.. Petals obliquely oblanceolate or subspathulate, subacute or obtuse, equalling the intermediate sepal, 2.5 mm. broad; all tepals 3-veined.. Lip almost horizontal, very convex and hooded with a short acute turned-up apex, 10–12 mm. long, 13–17 mm. broad when spread out.. Spurs slender, parallel with the ovary, 11–12 mm. long, ± 1.5 mm. in diameter at the base.. Column enclosed in the lip, 7–8 mm. long, the stalk slender, curved, equalling the fertile part; anther-loculi pendent, long-ellipsoid; stigma erect, broadly semi-orbicular, 3mm. broad, 2mm. high, rostellum very shortly 3-toothed, the middle lobe broadly triangular, viscidium single, very broad, slightly constricted in the middle.
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Column 7–8 mm long, the stalk slender, curved; stigma 2 × 3 mm; rostellum shortly 3-lobed, the mid-lobe tooth-like and shorter than side lobes; viscidium single, constricted in middle.
Sterile shoot with 3(4) leaves, at various stages of development at flowering time, the lowest 2 sheath-like, the terminal one c. 5 cm long, lanceolate, acute.
Lip 10–12 mm long, 13–16 mm wide when spread out, very convex and hooded with a wide mouth, the apex slightly reflexed.
Sepals and petals spreading and projecting forwards, joined to each other and lip for about a third of their length.
Median sepal 12–14 × 2–2.5 mm, narrowly oblong, rounded; lateral sepals of similar length but broader and oblique.
Flowering stem purplish in upper half with 6–7 loosely sheathing, imbricate leaves up to 7 cm long.
Terrestrial herb 30–60 cm, high; tubers 1.5–2 × 1–2 cm, globose to ovoid, tomentose.
Bracts to 25 mm long at base of inflorescence, reflexed, tinged with red.
Inflorescence 9–15 × 3 cm, densely many-flowered.
Spurs 12–15 mm long, slender, parallel to ovary.
Ovary and pedicel 10–12 mm long.
Petals similar to median sepal.
Flowers rich carmine-red.
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