Hesperantha coccinea

Hesperantha coccinea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Hesperantha
Species:
H. coccinea
Binomial name
Hesperantha coccinea
Synonyms
  • Schizostylis coccinea Backh. & Harv.
  • Schizostylis ixioides Harv. ex Baker
  • Schizostylis pauciflora Klatt

Hesperantha coccinea, the river lily, or crimson flag lily, synonym Schizostylis coccinea, is a species of flowering plant in the iris family Iridaceae, native to Southern Africa and Zimbabwe. It is a semievergreen perennial growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall, with slender lanceolate leaves up to 40 cm (16 in) long and 1 cm (0.4 in) broad. The flowers are red, occasionally pink or white, 3035 mm long, with six petals; they are produced four to ten alternately on a spike in late summer to autumn.

The Latin specific epithet coccinea means “bright red”.