Perennial herb from an exposed, green, succulent bulb; offsets present. Leaves 8-12, linear tapering, not white-striped. Inflorescence to about 1.5 cm; raceme triangular-cylindrical. Flowers numerous, flat cup-shaped, erect, to 15 mm wide; spring; bracts exceeding flowers. Tepals white, green-striped; not reflexed at fruiting. Ovary yellow-green. Fruit erect. [O. caudatum Ait.]

South Africa

 

O. narbonense L. from Mediterranean Europe to Asia Minor is a perennial herb from a subterranean bulb; offsets absent. Leaves 4-7, linear tapering, not white striped. Inflorescence to about 90 cm; raceme cylindrical. Flowers numerous, flat cup-shaped, erect, to 5 cm wide; bracts short; spring.Tepals white, green-striped; not reflexed at fruiting. Ovary yellow-green. Fruit erect.

O. oligophyllum Clarke from the Balkans is a perennial herb from a subterranean bulb; offsets absent. Leaves 2-3, broadly linear tapering, not white-striped. Inflorescence to about 25 cm; raceme cylindrical, 1-sided. Flowers less than 20, flat cup-shaped, erect, to 5 cm wide; bracts exceeding flowers; spring. Tepals white, green-striped; not reflexed at fruiting. Ovary yellow-green. Fruit nodding. [O. balansae Boiss.]

Source: Forster, P. (2005). Ledebouria. 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.