Robust clumps 75-100 cm high. Corm 4-8 cm diam.; tunic of tough parallel fibres. Leaves slightly < stems, 1.5-2.5 cm wide, narrow-ensiform, margins conspicuous, yellowish. Inflorescence simple or branched, ± ½ plant height; spathe-valves appressed to stem, upper half membranous, often red. Flowers 6-10 cm long, 3-5 cm diam., rose-red, salmon-pink, pinkish-cream tinged with green, or white, ± translucent; tube 4-6 cm long only gradually widened above; lobes spreading, ± 2-3 cm long. Capsule ± 2 cm long, very hard, apex flattened. Seeds to 1.5 cm long, flattened, winged.