Leaf 150–300 × 8–18 mm, leathery, roughened, channelled, dark green, base purplish. Flower stem 250–400 × 1.5–4 mm, 2–12-flowered. Sterile bracts usually 2. Flowers 16–26 mm across, purplish. Sepals and petals 8–15 × 4–8 mm, concave. Column 4.5–6 × 2.5–3.5 mm, pale blue with dark blue streaks; post-anther lobe 2–3 × 1.8–2.3 mm, dark brown with yellow apex, gently curved, inflated, hooded, notched; column arms converging, 0.8–1.2 mm long, bent sharply upwards at 90º; hair-tufts toothbrush-like, white, dense, hairs 0.7–1 mm long.
Widespread and common; found growing in open forest, woodland, heathy forest, heathland and grassland in freely draining loam.
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