Bulbous plants. Leaves sessile, distichous, strap-shaped and obtuse, arranged in a fan. Scape solid with flowers subtended by 2 free bracts. Flowers with pedicels considerably elongating in fruit, funnel-shaped, with tube shorter than segments. Ovary triquetrous. Capsule with 1 fleshy, spherical seed. Derivation of name: from Greek: bous, meaning an ox and phonos meaning murder, referring to the poisonous properties of the bulb. Worldwide: 6 species in southern and eastern Africa. Zimbabwe: 1 taxon. |
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