Stem to 35 cm, usually unbranched. Leaves to 30 cm long. Spike erect with 8-12 flowers. Spathe green with brown tip. Perianth cup-shaped, bright vermilion with faint veins; tube 9-12 mm long; segments equal, 25-30 mm long; spring. Stamens grouped in centre of flower. Syn. T. hyalina (L. f.) Baker.

T. squalida (Aiton) Ker Gawl. from Cape Province has a stem to 40 cm long, usually unbranched. Leaves to 25 cm long. Spike horizontal with 6-10 flowers; late spring. Spathe green with brown tip. Perianth cup-shaped, pale cool pink with darker pink veins; tube 10-15 mm long; segments equal, 30-40 mm long,. Stamens spreading randomly.Available cultivars include: 'Bridesmaid' flowers pure white;'Delicata' flowers white slightly flushed with pink;'Pink Lady' flowers pink; 'Silver Pink' flowers very pale pink.

Source: Cooke, D. (2005). Iridaceae. 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.