2n = 44

2n = 44

Plant at fl. c.5–30–(50) cm. tall. Stem 1–3 mm. diam., green to reddish, erect and rush-like, lfless almost up to infl. Lf us. much < raceme; lamina quite inconspicuous; brown ± fibrous sheaths of old scale-lvs persist at base of plant, enclosing present tuber and remains of tubers of several earlier seasons; these underground parts large compared with aerial portions of plant. Raceme of c. 5–25 closely spaced fls. Per. reddish, often dark, narrow, ± horizontal, with a distinct knee projecting upwards. Dorsal sepal c. 2.5–3 mm. long, deeply concave, broadly ovate, with a small apiculus; laterals definitely longer, very shortly connate at base, deeply concave, elliptic, tipped with a small spathulate, easily detached "gland." Petals shorter, more membr., hair-tipped. Labellum about as long as petals, us. dark red, articulate by a narrow curved claw to long column-foot; limb broad-oblong, almost auriculate at base; calli 2, longitudinal, ± parallel, finely and closely papillose; margins ciliate, cilia us. red. Lateral processes of column as tall as anther; tips bifid, the anterior lobe more acute and most minutely ciliolate. Anther on a short filament, definitely overtopping rostellum, apiculate. Stigma about its own height above column-base.