Flowering stem erect, straight, 15–30 cm tall, 2–3 mm diam., purplish. Leaf linear, attenuate, 7–11 cm long, 4–9 mm wide, shallowly canaliculate, dark green. Inflorescence 1–3-flowered. Sterile bracts 1 or 2. Perianth segments ovate to lanceolate, 10–15 mm long, violet with purplish tips, with strong darker longitudinal veins. Column ovoid, 5–7 mm long, deep violet grading to yellow towards upper margins; mid-lobe hardly developed, small and warty; lateral lobes initially erect, then assuming a more or less horizontal position in front of or below anther, elliptic, c. 2 mm long, c. 1 mm wide, fleshy, deep golden yellow, rugose, margins granulate or hairy. Anther with a large, broad, rounded apex protruding between lateral lobes of column. Flowers Sep.–Oct.
Once thought to be a natural hybrid, but currently recognised as a species.
Flowers open freely and are long-lasting.
