Haemanthus tristis Snijman

Bulbs deep seated, in clumps, pyriform, more or less round in cross section, 45-60 mm diam.; tunics thin, unequal, overlapping, in more or less horizontal layers, cream-coloured, the withered parts forming a leathery light brown covering. Leaves 2, recurved, appearing shortly after the inflorescence; blade ligulate, 110-170 mm long, 7-16 mm wide at the middle, channelled, thick and fleshy, both surfaces dull green to glaucous, glabrous; abaxial surface flushed with pink towards the base; margins red, smooth; apex obtuse. Peduncle slender, up to 75 mm long, 5-6 mm across greatest diam., pink to pale green, immaculate, glabrous. Umbel lax, broadly obconical to hemispherical, 35-50 mm across. Spathe valves 4-5, spreading apart, shorter or as long as the flowers, narrowly lanceolate, 20-30 mm long, 3-7 mm wide at the base, pale green to cream or white, later turning pink, thin-textured; tips acute. Flowers 10-20, white but appearing cream when young, fading to pink. Pedicels 6-12 mm long, pale green to cream-coloured. Perianth 8-11 mm long; tube 1.5-3 mm long, gradually widening upwards; segments widely spreading, narrowly oblong, 7-10 mm long, 1 mm wide; tips acute. Filaments exserted by up to 7 mm, cream to white. Anthers 1 mm long when open, yellow. Ovary subglobose, about 2 mm diam., pale green to cream-coloured. Style as long as the stamens. Berries not known.