A review of the Schizobasis group of Drimia Jacq. (Hyacinthaceae: Urgineoideae), and the new species D. sigmoidea from Western Cape, South Africa

•The Schizobasis group of species in Drimia is reviewed.•Drimia intrictata is a variable species that includes an additional three names in synonomy•Drimia sigmoidea is a new species from Western Cape with unique, deflexed pedicels

We review the Schizobasis Baker group of Drimia Jacq. in southern Africa. We adopt a broad circumscription of D. intricata (Baker) J.C.Manning & Goldblatt as occurring widely through the summer-rainfall parts of southern and tropical Africa, and describe a second species, D. sigmoidea J.C.Manning & J.Deacon, for populations from the Worcester–Robertson Karoo in winter-rainfall Western Cape. It is distinguished from D. intricata by its distinctive, deflexed pedicels that are sharply sigmoid in fruit, and conspicuous anther connective appendage. Both species are fully described and illustrated, with a map of their distribution in southern Africa.