Watsonia fergusoniae L.Bolus

Plants (220-)400-1100 mm high. Corm depressed-globose, 25-35 mm diam.; tunics finely netted. Stem simple. Leaves 2 to 4, ± basal, upper leaf partly sheathing stem, usually reaching to base of spike, linear, 3-7(-14) mm wide, midrib poorly defined and margins not thickened; bract-like cauline leaves 2 or more, sheathing. Spike 7-to 18-flowered; bracts green, dry and brown apically, (14-)20-26(-30) mm long, overlapping, ± as long or slightly longer, entire or barely notched apically. Flowers zygomorphic, scarlet-red; perianth tube with lower part 17-25 mm long, emerging 3-6 mm from bracts, upper part ascending to horizontal, subcylindric, 20-25(-30) mm long, (4-)6 mm diam. at mouth; tepals obovate, 20-25 x 9-12 mm, spreading widely or slightly cupped. Filaments unilateral and arcuate, 25-35 mm long, well exserted from tube; anthers 7-8(-10) mm long, yellow. Style dividing between base and middle of anthers, branches 5-7 mm long. Capsules narrowly cylindric, 20-25 x 4-6 mm. Seeds narrow, 6-9 x ± 2 mm, with broad distal wing and smaller or obsolete proximal wing.