Thereianthus bracteolatus (Lam.) G.J.Lewis

Plants (80-)150-200(-300) mm high. Corm 10-15 mm diam., developing several large cormels at base; tunics of coarsely netted fibres, thickened and forming woody claws below, accumulating with age. Stem flexuose or flexed outward only above sheath of second leaf. Leaves 4(5), lowermost reaching base of spike or not, ± dry at flowering, linear, elliptic in section or terete, 70-170 x 0.5-1.5(-2.0) mm, leathery, with 3 ± equally veins or with main vein slightly more prominent, not thickened or raised when fresh but prominent when dry, uppermost leaf well separated from spike, entirely sheathing or with short blade 20-50 mm long. Spike erect, densely 7-15(-30)-flowered; bracts overlapping for ± 1/2 length, 8-10(-12) mm long and ± two internodes long, outer entirely brown and leathery, obtuse or truncate (rarely apiculate), conspicuously and closely veined, with narrow membranous margins, inner 1/2-3/4 as long as outer, ± membranous with narrow brown zones along veins. Flowers ± patent, purple to violet with dark blotches and streaks on longitudinal veins and especially midline; perianth actinomorphic; tube slightly curved, (7-)8-10(-15) mm long, funnel-shaped, usually exserted 2-6(-10) mm beyond bracts, rarely just included; tepals oblanceolate, subequal or inner slightly broader, spreading and slightly cupped, (10-)11-17 x 3-6 mm. Stamens ± declinate, sometimes weakly so and then ± central; filaments 8-10 mm long, exserted ± 6-8 mm from tube, usually flexed sharply upward apically; anthers all facing upward, usually white (rarely purple), 4-6 mm long; pollen white (brown when anthers purple). Style ± deflexed to lie beneath stamens, dividing opposite middle of anthers, branches 3-5 mm long, divided to near base. Capsules ovoid, ± 6 mm long. Seeds subglobose-or ellipsoid-angled, ± 2 mm long, chalaza truncate, brown, testa colliculate.