Haemanthus coccineus Haemanthus coccineus Haemanthus coccineus, the blood flower, blood lily or paintbrush lily, is a species of flowering plant in the amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae, native to Southern Africa. Growing to tall and wide, it is a bulbous perennial with short brown stems surmounted by red flowers, the flowers appearing in spring and summer, before the strap-shaped leaves. The generic name "Haemanthus" is derived from the Greek words "haima" for blood and "anthos" for flower; "coccineus" is the Latin word for red or scarlet. In the Afrikaans language it is known as bergajuin, bloedblom, and many other vernacular names. "Haemanthus coccineus" is
Iris subbiflora iris'. It is known in Portugal as 'Lírio-roxo-dos-montes', or 'lírio-roxo', meaning purple lily, or 'Red Iris'. The Latin specific epithet "subbiflora" refers to 'subbiflorus' mostly two-flowered. This is because the plant occasionally, produces two flowers instead of the usual single flower. Although "Subbifera" would have been a seems to be a more appropriate specific name, as it sometimes produces flowering stems as different seasons (such as in spring and autumn). Carolus Clusius originally named the plant "Iris biflora", not "Iris bisflorens" because he found it in flower in November near Coimbra (in Portugal). It was first published and described by