Bulbous perennial herbs. Leaves basal, broad-linear, appearing in autumn or winter after the flowers. Inflorescence appearing from a leafless bulb; stalk solid; umbel subtended by semi-persistent spathe-like bracts and, until in fruit, asymmetric with the flowers facing in one direction. Flowers bisexual, several, slightly nodding on short stalks mostly within the bracts, large, trumpet-shaped with the pointed lobes united at the base, 6-10 cm long, fragrant, the stamens curved down except at the tip; late summer to autumn. Ovary inferior, 3-chambered with several ovules having axile placentation. Fruit a membranous roundish berry-like capsule; seeds quite large and fleshy.
South Africa
This species has been used extensively in hybridisation with other closely allied genera.
Naturalised around old settlement sites in WA, SA, NSW and Vic.
Source: (2005). Amaryllidaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Updated by: Val Stajsic, March 2020