Tritonia crocata Ker Gawl.

Plants 150-300(-500) mm high. Corm subglobose, 15-30 mm diam., with cormlets at base; tunics of fine-textured fibres. Stem erect, simple or up to 2-branched. Leaves 6 to 10, suberect to falcate, lanceolate-ensiform, (40-)50-200 x 4-10(-15) mm, acute or subobtuse, with evident main vein, cauline leaves bract-like, often dry. Spike moderately deflexed, subsecund, (2)5-to 15-flowered; bracts dry and papery, whitish or flushed pink but brown and densely speckled with rusty brown distally and on upper margins, (5-)10-16 mm long, outer obtuse or 3-toothed with median tooth smaller, inner bifid. Flowers subactinomorphic, widely cup-shaped, bright fiery orange to orange-red or pinkish orange, lower median or all 3 tepals with a narrow yellow stripe in throat and sometimes a yellow patch at base, unscented; perianth tube abruptly funnel-shaped, (8-)12-15 mm long, subfiliform and arcuate in lower 2-4 mm widening abruptly to 7-10 mm diam.; tepals subequal or inner slightly broader, spreading, obovate-spathulate, obtuse or minutely emarginate, (16-)20-28 x 10-20 mm, claws with wide hyaline marginal zones, lower median or all three tepals sometimes with low ridge-like callus along midline. Filaments unilateral but diverging, 7-9 mm long, reaching < halfway up perianth, often orange distally; anthers 5-8 mm long, pale or purple with yellow pollen. Style 15-20 mm long, dividing opposite upper half or slightly beyond anthers, branches 5-6 mm long. Capsules shortly ellipsoid or obovoid, 7-8 x 6 mm.

Recorded from roadsides, vacant land, abandoned gardens, disturbed eucalypt woodland, scrub.

The flowers are used to adulterate saffron.

Can be grown by seedlings.