Tufted, grass-like, to 20 cm high. Corm c. 2 × 1.5-2 cm; tunic grey-brown, closely woven. Leaves to 20 × 0.6-1 cm reaching to c. level of lowest flowers in basal fan; cormils few in lowermost leaf-axils. Inflorescence a spike; spathe-valves 2-3 cm long, marked with minute red-brown flecks, entire or lacerate at tip. Flowers (1) -2-5, ± 4 cm long, 4-5 cm diam.; tube c. 1 cm long, enclosed by spathe-valves; lobes variously coloured from deep orange-red through scarlet-red to dark purple-red, internally all with a dark brown blotch above bright yellow tube. Stamens symmetrical. Capsule not seen.