Perennial climbing herb from a stout rhizome-like corm. Stems to 60 cm, flowers solitary in leaf axils. Leaves broadly tapering, with apical tendrils. Flowers solitary, spreading, to 8 cm wide; spring to summer. Tepals bright red to orange, tips and margins sometimes greenish. Syn. G. rothschildiana O'Brien.

Can be invasive and is naturalised in parts of E Australia.

Tropical Africa and tropical Asia.

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Colchicaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.