Erect, rhizomatous geophyte up to 45cm with bright red basal parts and grey-hairy stems. A fan of stiff, softly hairy leaves, up to 30cm long and 4mm wide; softly hairy, velvety, pink to mauve flowers in loose round-topped flowerheads; stamens nestled within the tepals. Flowers more profusely after fire.

Greek: di = two; latris = servant: referring to 2 small anthers, subservient to the one larger one.

After: Mr. Neville Pillans (1884-1964), Cape botanist, assistant curator of the Bolus Herbarium, University of Cape Town.