Sturdy, bulbous geophyte up to 30cm; stem unspeckled. Leaves 2, appear after flowering, leathery, broad, often outlined in red, pressed flat on the ground (like the soles of a shoe); stout, reddish flowering stem, often slightly compressed, bears a paint-brush-like dense flowerhead of red to orange flowers surrounded by large, red bracts; fruits large, round, red.

Greek: haem- = blood; anthos = flower: referring to colour of flower.

Latin: sanguis = blood; -ineus = indicates colour: referring to blood-red colour of flower.