Tufted plants to c. 1.9 m high, sometimes spreading by rhizomes to form loose colonies. Leaves erect to spreading, sheathing and often reddish at base, lamina flat or margins slightly recurved, 30–80(–160) cm long, 8–20 mm wide, rather harsh-textured and glossy above, discolorous, margins and abaxial midrib irregularly and minutely serrate-scabrous. Inflorescence generally far exceeding leaves; panicle more-or-less ovoid, 25–50 cm long, rather sparse; pedicels recurved, 3–11 mm long. Flowers c. 15–19 mm wide, sweet-scented, perianth segments 6.5–9 mm long, 3–4.5 mm wide, distinctly recurved, spreading to recurved, lilac to mauve; stamens c. 6 mm long, filaments kinked, c. 2.5 mm long when straightened, filament swellings (strumae) orange-yellow, shorter than the 3.5–5 mm long yellow (ageing to brown) anthers. Berry ovoid to globular, 6–18 mm long; seeds smooth, black, shiny, c. 3 mm long, 2 mm wide. Flowers Oct.–Feb.
GleP, VVP, WaP, GGr, DunT, OtR. Occurs in grassland, woodland and swamp-scrub, mostly on clay soils derived from basalt, but also on sandier soils. Recorded from e.g. Grampians, Hamilton and Portland areas.
