Perennial herb from a short rhizome.. Roots with subspherical tubers ± 5 mm. in diameter when dry.. Leaves clustered, fully developed at flowering time (but see note); lamina elliptic, glabrous, somewhat asymmetrical, acuminate, base cuneate, 16-37 × 6.5-12 cm.; false petiole 3-8 cm. long; ligule short, membranous; sheaths 6-10 cm. long; pseudostem very short or absent.. Inflorescences arising at the base of the leafy shoots, 5-12-flowered; peduncle 0.5-4 cm. long; bracts scarious, delicate, narrowly elliptic, to 3.5 cm. long; floral bracts smaller, to 1 cm. long but delicate and usually poorly preserved; pedicels 0.5-1 (-5) cm. long.. Calyx tubular, 2.5-6.5 cm. long, with 2 longer teeth and 1 shorter at the apex.. Corolla-tube 4.5-10 cm. long, 1-2 mm. in diameter; petals elliptic, acute, 2-4 × 0.5-0.8 cm., blue.. Labellum blue, suborbicular in outline, deeply 3-lobed, with the central lobe itself bifid, 3-5 × 4.5-8 cm.. Stamen (fig. 3/7) ± 1.5 cm. long, obovate, obtuse; anther 5 mm. long.. Style filiform; stigma flattened, with a dorsal ridge, suborbicular.. Ovary narrowly ovoid.. Fruit and seeds unknown.
Home