Erect, cormous geophyte up to 80cm. Leaves linear, 3-veined with a long terete, false petiole, upper leaves filiform, brown. Flowers in a dense spike, tubular, scarlet to orange; flower tube 3-4cm long; tepals unequal the upper 3 larger; bracts dry.

After: William John Burchell (1781-1863), botanical collector, painter, entomologist; regarded as one of the greatest of the early explorers and naturalists in South Africa.