Although commonly called the cobra lily due to its hooded upper petal, Chasmanthe aethiopica is actually a member of the iris family (Iridaceae).
There are two other members of this genus, the robust orange or bright yellow C. floribunda with strongly branched inflorescences up to 1m high, and the medium-sized C. bicolor up to 90cm high with reddish-orange flowers striped with green. Both of these flower in late winter and spring (July to September). C. aethiopica differs in its smaller stature (25-70cm high) and in its shorter, reddish-orange or rarely light yellow flowers that bloom earlier in the season, from midautumn to winter (April to July).
This story is from the May 2017 edition of The Gardener.
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This story is from the May 2017 edition of The Gardener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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