Herb with rhizome. Leaves linear, onion-scented, shorter than inflorescence. Inflorescence 30-65 cm. Flowers 8-30, tube 7-13 mm long, lobes 5-12 mm long. Tepals purple, corona purple tinged red, or white; summer to autumn.

E Cape and Transvaal

Widely grown in gardens as an ornamental: the leaves are sometimes eaten as a chives or garlic chives substitute.

 

T. alliacea L. from South Africa and Zimbabwe is a herb with a rhizome. Leaves linear, onion-scented, shorter than the inflorescence. Inflorescence 15-30 cm. Flowers 6-10, tube 6 mm long, lobes 2-4 mm long; summer. Tepals green, corona orange-brown.

T. fragrans Verdoorn, Sweet Garlic (Pink Agapanthus) from NE Transvaal is a herb with a bulb. Leaves linear, strap-like, not smelling of onion, shorter than inflorescence. Inflorescence to 60 cm. Flowers 20-40, tube 8-9 mm long, lobes 3-4 mm long; spring to summer. Tepals light purple, corona purple, tinged pink. Spring to summer. [T. simmleri Beauverd]

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Alliaceae. 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.