Cipura gigas is a new species of this Neotropical genus of nine species that extend from Paraguav in the south to Cuba and Mexico in the north.Apparently most closely related to the wide¬ spread C. paludasa, C. gigas is distinguished hy its height (50-100 cm), the large bulb (ca. 3 cm diam.) with resinous tunics, basal leaves that are mostly 8-10 mm wide, lilac-purple flowers, and the inner tepals that form a narrow-mouthed urn-like cup 10-13 mm long.The species is restricted to the Ori¬ noco basin of eastern Colombia and adjacent Ve¬ nezuela.We provide a revised key to the genus.