Flora of New Zealand Series

Corm ± 2 × 1.5 cm, ovoid, narrowed above, cream; tunic fibrous, brown, thickly matted. Stems ± 20 cm high, wiry. Leaves slightly < stems, 5-12 mm wide, in a ± stiff fan; cormils often in axils of lowermost leaves. Spike 2-7-flowered, axis at right angles to stem. Flowers rather fleshy, ± 5 cm long, ± 3 cm diam., cream tinged with green and yellow, [cultivated forms of divers colours not wild in N.Z.]; lower tube narrow, dull brownish, upper tube abruptly widened, funnel-shaped, cream; lobes 6, ± similar, obtuse, one much yellower than rest. Style filiform; branches 3, each deeply bifid. Capsule globose, ± 1.5 × 1.5 cm, twice length of spathe-valves. Seeds many, red-brown, shining.

N. North Auckland - Taipa; Auckland - Auckland City, Thames; Taranaki - Opunake. S. Nelson - Ruby Bay; Marlborough - Blenheim; Southland - Riverton. Garden outcast in grassy waste places.

(S. Africa)

First record: ‡

First collection: "Taipa Bay on dunes, garden escape", R. Cooper 24.8.1965 (AK 118458).

FL. 9-10.