Ammocharis tinneana is a perennial herb, growing from a very large underground bulb with a distinct aboveground neck, similar in appearance to Boophane. Leaves in a basal rosette, invariably with a "cut-off" look, due to grazing by wildlife or cattle. Flowers in a large teminal umbel, pink to carmine with white stripe on inner surface of petals, fragrant. In this species the stalk (pedicel) of the individual flower is about 1 cm long while in Boophane these measure several cm.