This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was given this name by Inez Clare Verdoorn in 1943. It is found from eastern Zimbabwe to western Mozambique, growing in a rich soil with some water and some sun. The bulbs can grow to three centimetres in diameter, the leaves to 25 centimetres in length. The flowers are white to light pink.

The genera name from Latin; Crypto; 'hidden' and the Greek stephane; 'wreath' or 'crown'. The species name after Mr. Van Son, who first flowered a collected specimen.