Flowering stem erect, straight, rather stout, 30–70(–100) cm tall, 2–7 mm diam., straw-coloured to purplish. Leaf linear-lanceolate, attenuate, 20–45 cm long, 8–15 mm wide, leathery, ribbed abaxially, blade more or less flat, sheathing at base, dark green with a purplish base. Inflorescence 5–20(–30)-flowered, open. Sterile bracts large and prominent, usually 2, sometimes 1 or 3. Pedicels of lower flowers usually partially decurrent on rachis. Perianth segments lanceolate to ovate, 6–14(–17) mm long, usually pale blue. Column (4–)5–6.5 mm long, white or greenish at base; mid-lobe expanded into a hood over the anther, tubular, curving gently through c. 90 deg., yellow with a brown to reddish brown collar, apex emarginate; lateral lobes converging, 1.2–1.7 mm long, digitiform, porrect at base, bent sharply upwards near the middle, each with a toothbrush-like arrangement of white hairs embracing the front of the mid-lobe. Anther inserted about mid-way along column, shortly beaked. Flowers Sep.–Dec.
DunT. Also SA, Tas. Found in grassland, woodland and open forest on more nutrient-rich soils, often in disturbed sites.
In Victoria, known with certainty from only 2 collections in the Grampians and near Mortlake.
Flowers are self-pollinating and only open on warm, humid days.
