Description :

• Climbing or erect geophytes
• Corms abruptly bent
• Stems supple, scandent
• Leaves cauline, sessile, alternate or crowded in places, simple, linear to ovate, attenuated into a terminal, recurved tendril
• Flowers ± nodding, on upper part of stem on long pedicels, placed beside a leaf or unattended
• Perianth : segments free, equal, narrowly ovate-acuminate, often crisped, reflexed, persistent, yellow or red
• Stamens hypogynous; filaments firm, terete, spreading; anthers 2-thecous, versatile
• Ovary ovoid to oblong; ovules many; style filiform, bent sharply outwards at base, with 3 short stigmatic arms
• Capsule ovoid or cylindrical, 3-valved, septicidally dehiscent, leathery
• Seeds globose, bright red, fleshy
• x = 11 (14)

Nomenclature:

• Gloriosa L.
  • Linnaeus 305 (1753)
  • Baker: 525 (1897)
  • Sölch et al.: 50 (1970)
  • Field: 243 (1972)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global : Species ± 6, closely related, Africa, Asia
• Southern Africa : Species 1: Gloriosa superba L. ( G. virescens Lindley is regarded as a subspecies), Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape