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Cyrtanthus mackenii

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Author: Joseph Dalton Hooker, 1869
Family:  AMARYLLIDACEAE
Origin:  Eastern South Africa
Soil:  Rich
Water:  Medium - Maximum
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  2,5 Centimetres
Height:  30 Centimetres
Flower:  Red - Yellow - Cream-Coloured, -White
Propagate:  Seeds/Bulbs
Names:  Ifafa Lily
Synonyms:  Cyrtanthus mackenii var. cooperi, R.A.Dyer

This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was given this name by Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1869. It is found in eastern South Africa, growing in a rich soil with quite some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to two and a half centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 30 centimetres in height. The flowers are from white over cream and yellow to red.

Cyrtanthus mackenii var. mackenii: White flowers.

Cyrtanthus mackenii var. cooperi: Yellow or cream-coloured flowers.

The genera name from Greek; Kyrtos; 'curved' and Greek; anthos; 'flower' for the curved flower tube. The species name after Mark J. McKen, the first curator of the Durban Botanic Garden.

This is an evergreen species.