Watsonia gladioloides Schltr.

Plants (250-)350-500 mm high. Corm subglobose, 20-50 mm diam.; tunics coarsely netted. Stem erect, simple. Leaves 2 to 4, lower 2 basal, reaching to base or middle of spike, linear to lanceolate, 3-15 mm wide, midrib and margins strongly thickened and hyaline, remaining leaves partly or entirely sheathing and grading into bract leaves; bract-like cauline leaves 1 or more, overlapping. Spike up to 25-flowered; bracts dry and brown, (20-)24-32 mm long, wide and clasping below, inner ± 2/3 as long and concealed, deeply forked apically for 3 mm or more. Flowers zygomorphic, dark red with darker median streak in basal half of lower tepals; perianth tube with lower part ± 20 mm long, included in bracts, upper part ascending to horizontal and subcylindric, (20-)25-30 mm long, ± 5 mm diam. at mouth; tepals spreading, lanceolate, 20-22 x 7-8 mm. Filaments unilateral and arcuate, 25-35 mm long, exserted 5-7 mm from tube; anthers ± 9 mm long, violet. Style arching over stamens, dividing near anther apices, branches ± 5 mm long. Capsules and seeds unknown.