Leaves ensiform, acuminate, 35-90 by ⅔-2 cm, sometimes falcate, distinctly nerved, glabrous; sheath 10-30 cm long, widened and reddish brown or dark brownish at the base. Peduncle 25-65 cm by 3-4 mm, 3-sided in the upper part or flattened immediately below the head, subterete in the basal part. Head brown or green, ovoid to subglobose, 1-1½ by ca 1½ cm. Basal bracts navicular, 7-22 by 2-3½ mm, obtuse, crested. Median bracts ovate-oblong-squamate, 8-13 by 3-4 mm, obtuse or emarginate, minutely spinulose, with 2 twice forked or 4 descending nerves. Lateral sepals 8-9 by ca 2 mm, obtuse, crested or abruptly narrowing near the top, entire. Median sepal spathelliform, 1-nerved, up to 5 by 4 mm. Petals up to 15 mm long, limb sub-orbicular, up to 7 by 3-4 mm, outer margin lacerate, claw 7-8 mm long. Stamens 3-3½ mm, anthers brown or yellow, 2-2½ mm, connective sometimes widened and membranous; thecae close to each other, each with 2 acute tips and mucronate or obtuse base, inner cells shorter than the outer ones. Staminodes absent, or forked, penicillate, 2-2½ mm long, with a short mucro in the fork. Ovary ellipsoid, 2-3 by 1-1½ mm, attenuate at the base, 3-sided, 3-celled. Styles 3-fid, 6½-7 mm, branches linear, 3-4½ mm.
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