Sparaxis metelerkampiae (L.Bolus) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning

Plants 120-300 mm high. Corm 10-16 mm diam., tunics of coarse netted fibres usually thickened below into claw-like ridges. Stem simple or 1(2)-branched from aerial part of stem, inclined above leaf sheaths. Leaves 5 to 7, lanceolate, obtuse to acute, apiculate, sometimes obliquely so, basal except uppermost, this inserted in middle of stem, ± 1/2-2/3 as long as stem, 7-12 mm wide, sheathing lower part of stem, often inclined toward ground. Spike ± secund, 2-to 5-flowered; bracts pale or irregularly streaked with brown, slightly crinkled, outer 15-18 mm long, 3-cuspidate, central cusp more prominent, inner slightly shorter, with 2 prominent cusps. Flower violet-purple with cream-coloured to yellow (rarely reddish) markings on lower tepals; perianth tube with cylindric lower part 35-40 mm long, upper part 10 mm long, 6-7 mm wide at mouth; tepals unequal, dorsal largest and erect with margins incurved, 15-20 mm long, 8-11 mm wide, upper laterals 12 mm long, ± 5 mm wide, directed forward below and outward distally, lower tepals united with upper lateral for ± 3 mm and to each another for ± 4 mm, limbs channelled below and flexed downward in distal half, ± 12 x 4-5 mm. Stamens unilateral, arcuate; filaments 10-12 mm long, purple, reaching top of tube or exserted up to 3 mm; anthers 3-4 mm long, purple, median anther extending beyond tips of laterals; pollen pale yellow. Style usually dividing opposite lower 1/3 of anthers or below them (possible hybrids have style dividing opposite or beyond anther tips), purple, branches diverging, 2-3 mm long, extending between anther bases. Capsule cylindric-trilobed, 12-15 mm long, 5 mm wide. Seeds glossy brown, globose, 1.3-1.6 mm diam., 10 to 12 per locule.