Leaves basal 15-50 cm long, 5-14 mm wide, fleshy, pale green. Stem 30-50 cm tall, completely covered by sheathing leaves to 15 cm long. Spathes numerous, 2 flowered, leaf-like, 3-4 cm long, oblong. Flowers each last 1 day; very dark maroon-purple usually with pale blotches and paler brown margins; early spring. Perianth segments lanceolate, spreading, 2 cm long. Faint unpleasant scent. Syn. F. undulata L.

Capetown area, S Africa.

F. ferrariola (Jacq.) Willd. has larger grey-blue flowers to 7 cm wide and narrow basal leaves 2-5 mm wide.

Source: Cooke, D. (2005). Iridaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.