The male plant has a much larger flower bulb than does the female (not pictured). For both, the light colored leaves at the end of each stem create the illusion of a single large flower.

The flowers, when in their native location, bloom from September through October. The flowers are pollinated by small beetles.

The leaves are smooth, with a single blunt thorn at the tip. Each flower is composed of six petal-like leaves. Seeds are produced only by the female (not pictured), and dispersed by the wind.

Detail view of the male flower bulb. This plant is considered rare. In the wild only dense isolated stands occur. It grows on the southern damp rocky slopes of South Africa, from Table Mountain to Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula.

After the flowering season has ended, the flower dries out and turns black. The flower-like leaves become dark green like normal leaves.