DESCRIPTION:--An erect plant about 1 metre high. _Bulb_ 2-7·5 cm. in diameter, usually globose. _Stem_ about 1 metre high, closely covered with leaves above and with a few scale-leaves at the base. _Leaves_ sub-erect, 32 cm. long, 8-9 cm. broad, acute, narrowed at the base, glabrous, shining; the sheathing petiole of the lowermost leaves with reddish-brown spots, and the margin round the apex coloured reddish-brown. _Peduncle_ lateral, from the base of the stem, generally shorter than the stem, semi-terete, smooth and glabrous. _Inflorescence_ a many-flowered umbel. _Involucral-bracts_ 7-8, vandyke red to blackish red-purple (R.C.S.), 6·5-7·5 cm. long, 2-5 cm. broad, oblong, sub-acuminate, rounded or obtuse at the apex, glabrous. _Floral-bracts_ about 4 cm. long, 1-2 mm. broad, linear. _Flowers_ scarlet (R.C.S.). _Pedicels_ 1·5-5 cm. long, terete, glabrous. _Perianth-tube_ 1 cm. long, 0·9 cm. in diameter, campanulate, glabrous; lobes 1·2 cm. long, linear, obtuse and recurved at the apex, with a tuft of hairs on each alternate lobe, otherwise glabrous. _Stamens_ exserted, arising at the throat of the perianth-tube; filaments usually about 1·6 cm. long, hermosa pink (R.C.S.); anthers yellow. _Ovary_ 6 mm. long, ellipsoid; style longer than the stamens, hermosa pink (R.C.S.); stigma minute, globose. _Fruit_ a bright-red berry about 1 cm. in diameter, sub-globose, 1-3 seeded.
PLATE 32.--Fig. 1, plant reduced; Fig. 2, flower, with bract; Fig. 3, stamen, showing attachment to segment of the perianth.
CYRTANTHUS, _Ait._; _Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant._ vol. iii. p. 729.
=Cyrtanthus McKenii=, _Hook. fil. in Gard. Chron._, 1869, p. 641, with fig.; _Fl. Cap._ vol. vi. p. 225; _Wood, Natal Plants_, vol. i. t. 51.
The species of _Cyrtanthus_, which with one exception are confined to South Africa, have always received notice from gardeners. Our plant was described in 1869 from specimens sent to Europe by Mr. McKen, and a coloured drawing appeared soon after (1873) in one of the illustrated botanical publications. As far as our records go, this species is confined to Natal, where it is known as the “Ifafa Lily.” The specimens from which our illustration was made were gathered by Miss K. A. Lansdell on the banks of the Ifafa River near Port Shepstone, the original locality in which Mr. McKen first discovered the species. The flowers are strongly scented.