Watsonia vanderspuyae L.Bolus

Plants robust, 1200-2000 mm high. Corm depressed-globose, 60-100 mm diam.; tunics coarsely netted. Stem with 2 to 4 stiffly erect branches. Leaves 3 or 4, lower 2 or 3 basal, upper leaf partly sheathing stem, one 1/3-1/2 as long as spike, lanceolate, (33-)55-85 mm wide, midrib poorly defined, margins heavily thickened and hyaline; bract-like cauline leaves 2 or more, inflated, progressively smaller. Spike up to 30-flowered; bracts dry, brown and submembranous, becoming lacerate, 25-45 mm long, inner ± 2/3 as long, apically forked for 1-2 mm. Flowers zygomorphic, bright red; perianth tube with lower part ± 25 mm long, emerging from bracts, upper part horizontal, subcylindric, ± 25 mm long, ± 6 mm diam. at mouth; tepals narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, 25-35 x 7-13 mm, uppermost hooded, others spreading or variously recurved. Filaments unilateral, arcuate, 30-35 mm long, well exserted from tube; anthers 13-15 mm long, violet. Style dividing near apices of anthers, branches ± 6 mm long. Capsules oblong to ellipsoid, (24-)30-50 x ± 10 mm. Seeds 12-15 x ± 4 mm, with broad distal wing.