Haemanthus sanguineus

Image: By Abu Shawka (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Description

A bulbous plant about 300 mm high with two to three large - rounded leaves flat on the ground (like the soles of a shoe) that appear after flowering. The stout - red - flowering stem - often compressed and furrowed - bears the "paint-brush" flowerhead. This consists of a cup of about eight red bracts with numerous pink to red flowers crowded in the centre.

Bulb extracts are used for the treatment of internal wounds and for the treatment of broken bones, sprained ankles and other joint issues (Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation. 2015. The Wild Harvesting of Plant Medicines in Cape Town.)

Also known as blood lily | paintbrush lily | April Fool lily

Sources and references

Scientific name

Haemanthus sanguineus

Common name(s)

Blood flower

Features

Genus

Haemanthus