Perennials forming large colonies. Rhizome and roots typical. Leaves distichous, erect, alternate, + 5-7, cylindrical, bases overlapping below, + 0,5-1,0 m long, hard, smooth becoming ribbed with age, grooved on inside, margins red with a white outer membrane; immature leaves of seedlings + 10, rosulate, linear-acuminate, gradually curving inwards at maturity, becoming distichous and cylindrical with an apical groove. Inflorescence a tall raceme, emerging from centre of leaves, up to ± 1 m high; peduncle with 5—7 narrow, pointed bracts. Flowers typical, numerÂous, in small, knobbly, bracteate clusters of ± 6—10 flowers each, clusters placed irregularly along peduncle; pedicels articulated in the middle, anthesis presumably at night as in other species. Perianth 18—35 mm long; tube 12-25 mm long; lobes 6-10 mm long, colour variously described as drab, greyish or `bluish mauve at base, red-streaked higher up, tepals cream inside with pale pink or mauve' (fide Pooley 1437). Fruit tvpical, globos
