Herbs, perennial, dark to blackish olive when dry, to 5.7 dm, not glaucous; rhizomes slightly elongate. Stems branched, with 2-3 nodes, 2.4-5.7 mm wide, scabrous at least apically, margins denticulate to entire, similar in color and texture to stem body; first internode 15-39 cm, subequal to leaves; distalmost node with 2-3 branches. Leaf blades scabrous, bases becoming fibrous, persisting in tufts. Inflorescences borne singly; spathes green, obviously wider than supporting branch, slightly scabrous, keels entire; outer 14.8-24 mm, 0.5-1.8 mm longer than inner, tapering evenly towards apex, basally connate 3.8-5.6 mm; inner with keel evenly curved to straight, hyaline margins 0.1-0.3 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate, ending 0.3-7.5 mm proximal to green apex. Flowers: tepals pale blue to deep bluish violet, bases yellow; outer tepals 8.1-12.3 mm, apex rounded or emarginate, aristate; filaments connate ± entirely, stipitate-glandular basally; ovary similar in color to foliage. Capsules dark brown to black, ± globose, 3.8-8 mm; pedicel ascending to spreading. Seeds globose to obconic, lacking obvious depression, 1.3-3 mm, rugulose. 2n = 32. Flowering year round. Sandy soil in scrub oak barrens and pinelands; 0--100 m; Fla., Ga., N.C.
