Sparaxis variegata (Sweet) Goldblatt

Plants 100-180(-300) mm high. Corm 12-22 mm diam.; tunics of coarse, hard fibres, with thickened vertical strands in lower half. Stem simple or sometimes branched near middle. Leaves several in a tight fan, inclined or appressed to ground, 100-150 x 8-14 mm. Spike secund in 2 ranks, 3-to 8-flowered, branches always with fewer flowers than main spike; bracts pale with brown streaks, margins irregularly toothed, outer 20-25 mm long, inner ± as long, divided distally into 2 long cusps. Flowers zygomorphic, bilabiate, either pale yellow with dorsal tepal violet and lower laterals purple at tips or less often upper three tepals violet, throat yellow to white with longitudinal purple streaks, unscented; perianth tube cylindric below, abruptly bent at right angles into wide horizontal part, cylindric part 30-32 mm long, ± 2 mm diam., upper part ± 12 mm long, slightly inflated, ± 12 mm wide at mouth; tepals unequal, dorsal longest, ± erect, lanceolate-ovate, 25-30 x 16-18 mm, upper laterals ± 20 x 10 mm, recurving in distal half, lower tepals united basally for 5-7 mm, ± clawed, limbs channelled, ± 12 x 4.5 mm. Stamens unilateral and arcuate; filaments ± 20 mm long; anthers parallel, white, striped purple on locule sutures, 6-7 mm long. Ovary ovoid, ± 3 mm long; style dividing near anther tips, branches recurving gradually, 4-5 mm long, channelled and broader in distal 1/2. Capsules oblong, 9.0-11.5 x ± 6 mm. Seeds globose, brown, ± 2 mm diam., (5-)8 or 9(10) per locule.