This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was given this name by Ferdinand Albin Pax in 1893. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania, growing in almost pure grit or another well drained soil with some water and some to lots of sun. The bulb will grow to five centimetres in diameter, the laves reach 40 centimetres in height. The flowers are from red to dark purple.
The genera name from Latin; Crypto; 'hidden' and the Greek stephane; 'wreath' or 'crown'.
The species name means 'looking like Haemanthus, which the flowers do. Seems to need some heat, even during the winter dormancy. Due to the fact the root emerges on the top of the bulb, this might not be grown as a caudiciform. Photo by John Ingram.
Flower
Red - Purple
Soil
Grit - Mix
Water
Medium
Sun
Medium - Maximum
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