Flora of New Zealand Series

Summer-green perennial, cormous with fibrous tunic. Leaves distichous, flattened. Spike secund, axis usually bent at abrupt angle from stem. Flowers several, often sweet-scented, alternate on axis, all curved toward upper side, each within 2 small green membranous spathe-valves; tube distinct, usually curved, lower portion slender, funnel-shaped above; lobes all similar, or 3 inner dissimilar. Stamens asymmetric. Style filiform; style-branches 3, each deeply bifid. Capsule subglobose. Seeds many. Spp. c. 20, all of S. Africa. Adventive sp. 1.