Plants solitary to several-stemmed. Leaves at first erect, later bending over about the midÂdle, 0.55-1.1 m long, 10-20 mm broad, soft in texture, channelled above and keeled below, midgreen to slightly glaucous; margin distantly serrulate towards apex, generally smooth in lower part and on keel. Scape 0.6-1.2 m tall, overtopping recurved leaves. Raceme ovoid, cylindrical, usually tapering slightly towards apex, 80-150 x 40-50 mm, dense, or someÂtimes rather lax at apex; buds at first ascending, later spreading, coral to pale orange or orange-scarlet; flowers varying in colour according to locality (see notes) from cream-coloured or ivory, to creamy yellow or orange-yellow. Pedicels 2-5 mm long. Bracts at first erect, later deflexed, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acute to acuminate, 7—12(—16) mm long, minutely serrulate to entire. Perianth sub-cylindrical, 22-25 mm long; lobes about 3 mm long, slightly spreading. Stamens exserted by about 2 mm at anthesis, later withdrawn. Fruit ovoid-triquetrous, 5 mm long. Flowering time: February to April. Figure 23.
