Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Habitat and
distribution
Kniphofia schimperi
Description
Habitat and
distribution
KNIPHOFIA 119
mm long, stamens eventually withdrawn. Fruit ovoid and pointed,
8–9 × 6 mm.
The species often grows in water-logged or flooded
meadows between 2500 and 3100 m. It is so far only
known from the Shewa and Arsi region. The main
flowering period is from June to September.
The plants occur scattered, and it is commonly seen
in the Sululta plains between Addis Ababa and Chancho
during its flowering period.
6. Kniphofia schimperi Baker
The specific epithet ‘schimperi’ was given in honour
of the famous German collector, George Wilhelm
Schimper, from whose collection the type of the species
was designated. The species was described by Baker in
1874 from a plant collected from Debre­Tabor in Gonder
region.
The species is clearly distinguished from the related
species, K. thomsonii, by the lax inflorescence, with 1–3
flowers per cm, usually growing towards one side of the
inflorescence, and the narrow bracts, only 1.2–2 mm
wide.
Plants slender with fibrous remains of leaves at the base. Leaves
30–50 × 0.4–1 cm, linear, dark green, keeled; keels and margin
minutely papilose­scabrid or smooth. Peduncle (including raceme)
43–130 cm long. Raceme 15–35(–52) cm long, secund, lax, flowers
1–3(–4) per cm. Bracts white, cuspidate, 5–12 × 1.2–2 mm. Perianth
orange red, pale red to orange, pendulous, cylindrical, 15–26 mm
long, widening at the mouth and not constricting at the base;
perianth lobes 1.5–2.5 × 1–2 mm long. Pedicel slender 1.5–4.5 mm
long. Stamens and style only shortly exserted, up to 3.5 mm long,
stamens eventually withdrawn. Fruit ovoid, ca. 8 × 5 mm.
The species grows on steep grassy or stony slopes on
rocky outcrops and hillsides between 1500 and 3000 m.
It is so far known only from montane areas in Gonder,
Gojam, Welo, Shewa, Arsi, and Bale regions in Ethiopia,
and in Eritrea. The main flowering period is from July
to October.
The species is found as scattered plants within its
habitat, as seen on the Entoto ridge north of Addis Ababa
on the way to Chancho.