A bulb ovoid or conical, 2-3 cm in diam.; scales white, oblong or narrowly ovate, 2-3 × 1-1.5 cm. Stem sometimes streaked with purple, 15-60 cm, papillose. Leaves scattered near middle of stem, linear, 3.5-9 × 1.5-3 cm, midvein prominent abaxially, margin papillose. Flowers solitary or several in a raceme, nodding. Tepals revolute, bright red, usually unspotted, occasionally with a few spots near base, 4-4.5 cm × 8-11 mm, not minutely papillose adaxially; nectaries papillose on both surfaces; filaments 1.2-2.5 cm, glabrous; anthers yellow, with reddish pollen, ca. 1 cm; ovary 8-10 mm; style 1-2 cm. Capsule oblong, ca. 2 × 1.2-1.8 cm.

Antiasthmatic, antitussive, expectorant, sedative and tonic (bulb)

Plants For A Future
Flora of China

The bulb is used in the treatment of coughs, haemoptysis, fright-induced palpitation, insomnia, dreaminess and fidgetiness in the later stage of febrile disease.

Contraindicated in patients with Wind Cold or loose stools due to Internal Cold in the Middle Heater.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 382, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.