Cyrtanthus flammosus Snijman & Van Jaarsv.

Evergreen bulbous herb, up to 250 mm tall. Bulb solitary or in small groups, partially exposed, ovate, ± 40 mm across, covered with dry, brown, papery scales, sometimes extended into a neck up to 40 mm long. Leaves 2-4, suberect to recurved, 130-290 x 15-20 mm, thick-textured, glaucous, distinctly narrowed and abaxially thickened in proximal quarter with reddish brown below. Inflorescence 1-flowered; scape erect, hollow, up to 170 mm long, 6 x 8 mm wide, elliptical in cross section, glaucous green, reddish brown proximally; spathe valves 2, suberect, herbaceous, narrowly lanceolate, 55 x 10 mm, folded lengthwise, light green; pedicel stout, erect, 5-15 x 5 mm, green. Perigone erect, widely funnel-shaped with outspread segments, scentless; tube 40-55 mm long, lower half narrow, 4-7 mm across, green, upper half abruptly flared to 25 mm across, pale green to scarlet distally; segments outspread, broadly obovate, 40-50 x 30-35 mm, flame-coloured; apex mucronulate, folding inwards and turning purplish with age. Filaments uniseriate, symmetrically arranged, curved slightly inwards, free for 20-25 mm, decurrent along length of perigone tube, cream to pale green in throat, scarlet distally; anthers dorsifixed, ± 15 mm long before opening, yellow; pollen yellow. Style declinate, as long as perigone, deeply trifid, scarlet; stigmatic branches 5 mm long, channelled; ovary 10-15 x 6 mm, green. Capsule not seen.