Unbranched geophyte bearing a few globose cormlets in the lowest joints of the stems after flowering. Leaves 6-10, outcurving 4-13mm wide, shorter than the stem. Flowers 35-45mm long, long lasting, may be cream, red-purple, violet or yellow with a yellow-purple or black eye, with or without dark markings. Bracts with long dark cusps. Four subspecies are recognized.

In Fernkloof the flowers of this species are usually cream coloured.