Cyrtanthus is a large genus of family Amaryllidaceace comprising some 50 species, all of which are endemic to southern Africa but its centre of occurrence is in southern and southern-western Cape of South Africa. The genus can be subdivided into 3 sections according to floral characteristics, namely: Section Campanulata (floral characteristics: bell-shaped / flared flowers), Section Small Tubular (distinguishing features: small tubular flowers), and Section Large Tubular (floral characteristics: large pendular flowers).
Examples of Section Campanulata include such species as: C. elatus (previously known as Vallota speciosa), C. flammosus, C. guthrieae, C. sanguineus, etc.
Examples of Section Small Tubular include C. brachyscyphus, C. tuckii, C. mackenii, C. contractus, C. ventricosus, C. labiatus, etc.
Examples of Section Large Tubular include the spectacular species: C. herrei, C. obliquus, C. falcatus, C. carneus and the elusive taxon C. erubescens.
The species under discussion exhibits small tubular flowers with united segments (Section Small Tubular) which is opposed to the flared floral segments of C. sanguineus (Section Campanulata). By eliminating the coloration so described, I would make a guess that the concerned taxon could possibly be C. brachyscyphus or C. obrienii which are known to be relatively common in cultivation in Taiwan. Both these taxa are evergreen growers.
For details of genus Cyrtanthus, please make reference to "A review of the Southern African species of Cyrtanthus", Reid, C., and R. A. Dyer. 1984. |