Haemanthus graniticus Snijman

Bulbs forming clumps, obclavate, laterally compressed or almost round in cross section, 55-70 mm across; tunics thin, imbricate, more or less distichous, with oblique margins, turning deep pink when exposed to light, mostly covered by withered brown papery remains. Leaves 2, occasionally 3, erect, appearing after the inflorescence; blade narrowly to broadly lanceolate, 140-275 mm long, 15-50 mm broad near the middle, flat or slightly channelled below; both surfaces shiny green and glabrous, immaculate or slightly barred with red towards the base of the abaxial surface; margin smooth, green or red; apex acute or obtuse. Peduncle stout or slender, up to 240 mm long, compressed, 5-16 mm wide across the greatest diam., scarlet to deep red or pale carmine, immaculate, glabrous. Umbel compact, obovoid to obconical, 30-50 mm across. Spathe valves (4-)6-7, erect, set apart or slightly overlapping, shorter to longer than the flowers, narrowly to broadly lanceolate, 30-47 mm long, (6-)9-19 mm broad at the middle, red or pale carmine, firm but not fleshy; tips acute. Flowers (15-)20-70, red to rose-pink. Pedicels 7-14 mm long, red or pink. Perianth 14-21 mm long; tube 2.5-5 mm long, slightly expanded upwards; segments erect, narrowly oblong, 9-18 mm long, 1-2 mm wide; tips obtuse. Filaments exserted by up to 7 mm, mostly white. Anthers 1.5-2 mm when open, yellow. Ovary subglobose, 2-3 mm diam., greenish-red or pink. Style as long as the stamens. Berries not known.