Leaf forming a closed sheath 40–100 mm above ground before expanding to linear blade, 80–150 × 2–5 mm, dark green, mauve or purplish. Flower stem bright red to purple, 150–350 mm tall, 1–8-flowered. Sterile bract 1. Flowers 9–12 mm across, internally deep blue to mauve, externally red to maroon. Sepals and petals 6–8 × 2–3 mm. Column 4–5 × 2–3 mm, purplish; post-anther lobe 2–3 × 1.5–2 mm, black with deep yellow apex, hooded, apex smooth, V-notched; column arms parallel, c. 1.2 mm long, obliquely erect; hair tufts mop-like, dense, white, embracing front of column, hairs c. 1 mm long.
Highly localised, but sometimes locally common; found growing in moist to wet, sandy and peaty soil in low woodland, wet heath and in proximity to swamps and bogs; also colonises disturbed sites such as slashed firebreaks and track margins.
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