Perennials, tufted, up to 1 m tall, variÂable. Rhizomes horizontal, matted; roots many, fairly thick. Leaves basal, cauliform. Stems naked, erect, terete, 2-3 mm in diam., smooth, bright green, pith asterisciform, conÂtinuous; cataphylls 70-170 mm long, sheathÂing stems and leaves. Inflorescence pseudo-lateral, subtending leaf forming continuation of stem; flowers very numerous and very small, in globose to lax, decompound anthe-lae; bracts 3 per flower, small, hyaline. Tepals acute, c. 2-3 mm long, green, subsimilar. Stamens 3 (rarely 6); filaments about as long as anthers. Ovary obtuse; style 0; stigmas short. Capsule ovoid to rounded, refuse, membranous, pale yellowish; seeds 0,4 mm long, fusiform but bulging on one side, goldÂen brown, reticulate with strong wavy lines, becoming mucilaginous when wet. Fig. 23: 1.
