Elegant Bessera

Family: the onion family. Occurs in Mexico.

Bulb spherical, 2.5 cm in diameter, producing 6–10 scapes. Leaves 2–3, 25–60 cm long. Stem hollow, brittle, 30–60 cm tall; flowers 4–10 on pedicels 2.5–4 cm long. Perianth 2.2 cm long, externally vermilion-red, with a green keel on each segment; segments united at the base, above free and spreading. Corona white; the free portions of the stamen filaments and the pistil red; anthers grayish-blue. 2n = 16. Flowers in late summer and early autumn for about 2 months.

Easily propagated by seeds and offsets. Grown on sandy or loamy soil with some peat or leaf mold. In southern England, plants are wintered under cover or bulbs are moved to a cool greenhouse or cold frame. Very ornamental.