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Cyrtanthus spiralis

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Author:  William John Burchell, 1816.
Family:  AMARYLLIDACEAE
Origin:  Southern South Africa
Soil:  Mix - Grit
Water:  Minimum
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  4 Centimetres
Height:  15 Centimetres
Flower:  Red - Dark Pink
Propagate:  Seeds/Offsets
Names:  -
Synonyms:  Gastronema spirale, Eckl. & Zeyh. 1850.
Monella spiralis
, Herb.1821.

This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was described by William John Burchell (after John Bellenden Ker Gawler, although I fail to find the name he gave it) in 1816. It is found in the Southern South Africa, growing in a very well drained soil with little water and lots of sun. The bulb will slowly grow to four centimetres in diameter, and the few leaves to fifteen centimetres. The flowers are red or dark pink, and the plant can be reproduced both from seeds and from offsets.

The genera name from Greek; Kyrtos; 'curved' and Greek; anthos; 'flower' for the curved flower tube. The species name after the shape of the leaves.