Annuals, c. 100 mm tall, with basal, erect, light green leaves and terminal and axÂillary thyrses. Roots many, long, yellow, with numerous thin side roots. Leaves linear, acute, c. 50-80 x 7 mm, glabrous, loosely sheathing at the base. Inflorescences on thin exserted peduncles, composed of crook-shaped cymes or flowers more loosely arÂranged; small, broad bracteoles sometimes present. Sepals 3, maroon to purplish, ovate, 2 mm long. Petals yellow to orange, equal, slightly longer than the sepals. Stamens 6, equal. Ovary typical. Capsule compressed, broader than long, 2 mm broad, apiculate, shiny, cream; seeds subglobose, ribbed, reÂticulate and punctulate, cream to grey. Fig. 16.
