clothed with sheathing, large, ovate, involute, acute scales, almost 
concealing the scape. Spike or raceme itself nearly a span 
long, crowded with the very copious flowers and bracteas, and 
of a red rose colour. Bracteas as long as or longer than the 
flowers, membranaceous, narrow-lanceolate, much acuminated, 
withering. Pedicels short, twisted, two-edged. Ovary more 
or less winged at the angles. Sepals oblong, rather acute, 
concave, somewhat thick and firm, deep reddish flesh-colour, 
corrugated externally, the two anterior or inferior ones extending 
downward into a broad two-lobed spur. Petals as long as the 
sepals, nearly white, smooth, oblongo-obovate. Ladellum of the 
same texture as the sepals, white, oblong, acute, reflexed at the 
apex, terminating below in a two-lobed or didymous very blunt 
spur. Column semiterete, decurrent below its attachment to the 
ovary, semiterete. Anther sunk into the clinandrium.  Pollen- 
masses eight, attached to a rather small gland. 
Fig. 1. Flower. 2. Flower with the sepals removed. 3. Pollen-masses. 
