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General Description
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A terrestrial herb 13–45 cm. tall. Perennating organs underground, tuberous, irregularly conical, 1–3 cm. long, 1–2.5 cm. diameter, in chains, yellow, 2–4-noded; roots 2–3 mm. diameter, white. Leaves 4–5, coriaceous, linear-lanceolate, acute, 3–14 cm. long, 2–2.5 mm. wide, lowermost sheathing. Inflorescence produced before the leaves, laxly many-flowered; rhachis 2–3 mm. diameter, with 3 short acute sheaths along length; bracts spreading, linear, acuminate, 3–9 mm. long. Flowers chocolate or dull brown with a cream or yellow lip striped brown and with a yellow callus; pedicel and ovary 9–20 mm. long, plum-coloured. Dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 5–6.7 mm. long, 2.5–3.6 mm.wide; lateral sepals similar. Petals elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 5.8–8 mm. long, 4.3–5.7 mm. wide. Lip 3-lobed, 5.7–7.5 mm. long, 5–6.8 mm. wide; side lobes triangular, subacute, united for half length to the column; mid-lobe convex, elliptic, margin undulate; callus of 5–9 fleshy rugulose ridges on to basal half of mid-lobe; spur conical, 1.5–2.5 mm. long. Column 2.5 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 17–20 mm. long.
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Habitat
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In short, often burnt, grassland and amongst rocks; 900–2350 m.