CYRTANTHUS MACKENII

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.