Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Key to the species
KNIPHOFIA 113
Members of the genus produce the most beautiful and
varied flowers ranging from white to pink, yellow to red.
The plants within the genus do not only display these
varied colours, they also display two different patterns
of flower opening. In K. isoetifolia and K. pumila, the
flowers open from top downwards (centrifugal), while
in the other species the flowers open from base upwards
(centripetal).
1. Raceme very dense, stamens exserted for 8–15 mm long 2
- Raceme lax or subdense, stamens exserted for less than 4 mm long at anthesis
and later withdrawn 3
2. Perianth campanulate, 10–14(–18) mm long; flowers opening from top
downwards (centrifugal) 1. K. pumila
- Perianth funnel-shaped to tubular, 18–27 mm long; flowers opening from
base upwards (centripetal) 2. K. foliosa
3. Flowers white, pink, yellow, orange or red; bracts white or greenish,
reflexed at or after anthesis 4
- Flowers pale greenish or yellowish–white; bracts brown, not reflexed
at or after anthesis 3. K. hildebrandtii
4. Inflorescence cylindrical, flowers opening from base upwards (centripetal) 5
- Inflorescence capitate, flowers opening from top downwards (centrifugal)
4. K. isoetifolia
5. Perianth yellow, orange or red; roots slender, not fusiform; usually
growing in well drained soil 6
- Perianth white, buds pale pink; roots fusiform; growing in water-logged
meadows 5. K. insignis
6. Inflorescence lax, with 1–3 flowers per cm, ± secund; bracts narrow,
1.2–2 mm in diameter 6. K. schimperi
- Inflorescence subdense, with 5–10 flowers per cm, not secund;
bracts wide, 3–4 mm in diameter 7. K. thomsonii