A garden species, tall, 2 to 5 feet, stout-stemmed, leafy to the base, often found in the fence-corners and along roadsides, growing wild. The stem is nearly black or dark purple, bearing black bulblets in the upper leaf-axils, which sometimes throw out rootlets. Leaves, lance-shaped, with prominent ribs and entire outlines, alternate. Flowers, often numerous, large, drooping, with orange - spotted, turned - back sepals. It has 1 long pistil and 6 stamens, projecting and spreading.