Cormous geophyte up to 10cm, the corm tunics netted. Leaves linear-lanceolate, pleated and hairy and often longer than the flower stem. Flowers blue to mauve with darker mauve and white to cream markings on lower tepals, fragrant; bracts usually entirely green, inner bracts divided to the base.

The corms are favoured by baboons hence common name Bobbejaantjie. Corms were also a favourite food of the Griqua people, first mentioned by William Burchell in 1811.