2n = 14

Roots swollen proximally in fusiform shape. Leaves erecto-patent but often flaccid, narrow (occasionally to 10 mm wide but usually much less), tapering gradually to subacute tip; sheath-fibres sometimes persisting but forming setose bristles; peduncle slender, often flexuose, shorter than leaves at flower, elongating in fruit, always longer than inflorescence, usually much longer; raceme short and broad, elongating in fruit but even then length usually only c.2 × diameter; bracteoles short with wide sheathing base, hiding young buds but in fruit much shorter than pedicel; flowers (rarely more than 30), very laxly arranged; pedicels long, spreading, often bent slightly at the tip so that flowers face upwards; perianth yellow, becoming shrivelled and discoloured and pendent from base of ripe capsule; flowers bisexual; filaments more than half tepal length, the outer three slightly shorter than the inner three; ovary yellow-green, becoming greener as flower matures, deeply and subevenly 6-furrowed, supported by definite gynophore of similar colour; style narrow, about as long as ovary diameter; capsule globose on distinct gynophore; seeds brown, smooth, without wing, the outer edges rounded.

Folia angusta, erecto-patentia, saepe flaccida, vaginis vetusfis non setosis; pedunculus quam inflorescentia semper longior, plerumque multo longior; racemus laxus, pauciflorus; pedicelli longi, bracteolas ovatas superantes; perianthium flavum, marcescens, diu persistens; ovarium 6-sulcatum, quam stylis vix longius; capsula subglobosa basi in stipitem attenuata; semina haud alaia.

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