Cormous geophyte up to 70cm. Leaves sword-shaped, thickened in the midline, 5-12mm wide. Flowers bright red, the lower tepals yellow or green in a  5-8 strongly inclined flower spike; dorsal tepal largest, elongate and spoon shaped, upper lateral tepals held erect, lower tepals small, directed forward.

After: Johann Christian Cuno (1708-1780), German naturalist.