Sparaxis galeata Ker Gawl.

Plants 120-200(-350) mm high. Corm 16-22 mm diam.; tunics of pale, fine fibres accumulating in thick mass extending upward to ground level in collar around base. Stem branching only from base or unbranched. Leaves 5 to 7, narrowly lanceolate, obtuse to acute, obliquely apiculate, usually inclined toward ground, ± half as long as stem, 10-18 mm wide, speckled purple on sheaths. Spike ± secund, 4-to 7-flowered, branches with fewer flowers, weakly flexuose, straight or inclined; bracts pale with dark brown streaks, becoming brown above, somewhat lacerate, outer 13-16 mm long, 3-cusped with central cusp more prominent, inner slightly shorter than outer, 2-cusped. Flowers zygomorphic, upper tepals violet or dull yellow-brown, lower tepals deep yellow shading to violet at tips, upper laterals fading to pale yellow distally, throat streaked purple and yellow on abaxial side, with heavy, sweet slightly spicy odour; perianth tube obliquely funnel-shaped, 12-15 mm long; tepals unequal, dorsal largest, erect, 25-30 x 14-15 mm, widest in midline, upper laterals recurved, ± 22 mm long, lower tepals united with upper lateral for ± 5 mm and to each other for ± 2 mm, free parts ± 17 x 5-6 mm, narrowly clawed at base, limbs channelled, flexed downward. Stamens unilateral, arcuate; filaments 18-20 mm long, translucent purple; anthers 5-6 mm long before dehiscence, shrinking to ± 3 mm; pollen yellow. Style arched above filaments, purple, dividing opposite middle to apex of anthers, branches weakly recurved, 4-5 mm long, filiform, slightly expanded and forked at tips. Capsules barrel-shaped to subglobose, 5-8 mm long. Seeds ± 2.2 mm diam., yellow-brown, 2 or 3(4) per locule.