Geophyte up to 60cm but often smaller, with reddish, tuberous roots. Leaves fan-shaped, usually hairy, pleated and linear to lanceolate; flowers arranged in a branched raceme, pale yellow to apricot often having dark markings, lightly scented; bracts papery or membranous, usually recurved.

Flowers more profusely after fire, often colouring burnt slopes a golden-yellow.

After: E.J. van Wachendorf (1702-1758), German-Dutch professor of botany.