Description :

• Perennial, deciduous or ± evergreen, bulbous herbs
• Bulb ovoid or ellipsoid; scales long, fleshy or membranous
• Leaves many; erect, broadly linear, acuminate; margin entire, wavy; glaucous or deep green
• Inflorescence a terminal cylindrical to subcapitate dense raceme, overtopping leaves; peduncle often mottled; bracts linear to acuminate, each with a smaller lateral bracteole, falling early
• Flowers pink or red; pendulous; pedicels short, curved downwards
• Tepals fused below forming a slightly curved, cylindric tube; lobes short, rounded, slightly spreading
• Stamens 6, arising from ± middle of perianth tube, shortly exserted from mouth of tube; filaments filiform, decurrent; anthers dorsi- or basifixed, introrse
• Ovary ovoid; ovules 2 per locule; style filiform, ultimately exserted; stigma small, apical
• Fruit a membranous, inflated, 3-sulcate capsule
• Seeds pear-shaped, black, verrucose
• x = 10 (1 report, polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

• Veltheimia Gled.
  • Gleditsch: 66 (1771)
  • Baker: 470 (1897)
  • Obermeyer: t. 1356 (1961)
  • Bond & Goldblatt: 57 (1984)

Distribution & Notes:

• Southern Africa : Species 2, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape

Additional Notes:

• Has been cultivated for over two centuries
• A yellow sport is also available in the horticultural trade