Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Jodrellia fistulosa
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Notes
Jodrellia macrocarpa
1. Jodrellia fistulosa (Chiovenda) Baijnath
JODRELLIA 123
The species epithet refers to the ‘fistulose’ leaves,
meaning that they are cylindrical and hollow. Chi ovenda
described the species in the genus Bulbine in 1911 based
on material obtained from Tigray floristic region. It
differs from J. ma crocarpa by its non-inflated capsules
and almost smooth seeds. It is, however, possible that the
non-inflated fruits in J. fistulosa is due to young stage
in the only collection from Ethiopia, and that only one
species occurs in the area.
Erect perennial herb 30–40 cm tall. Leaves glabrous, terete to
fistulose, up to 55 × 0.8 cm, gradually dilating to a broad sheathing
base. Inflorescence racemose. Scape (including the raceme) 12–30
cm long, shorter than the leaves. Raceme dense, 15–40-flowered,
1.5–7 cm long. Bracts 5–14 mm × 1.5–4 mm, whitish, transparent,
lanceolate, apex filiform. Pedicels 5–10 mm long, slender, recurved
after flowering. Tepals whitish to pinkish, with slightly cucullate
apex; outer segments, 6 × 2 mm, 3­nerved; inner ones 5 × 1 mm,
1­nerved. Ovary obovoid with papillose stigma, 3­locular with 2
ovules in each locule. Capsule 4–5 × 3–4 mm long, not inflated.
Seeds few, dark­brown to black, slightly angled, dark brown, almost
smooth, c. 2 mm across, with a hook.
The species has been collected close to rivers around
900 m. So far it is only known from the Tigray floristic
region (Tekeze river valley) and from Eritrea. According
to the monographer of the genus, Baijnath, the Ethiopian­
Soma li an plants are conspecific with plants collected in
Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia (the Kaprivi
Strip), but more comparative studies are needed. The
Ethi opian plants have not been collected during their
flowering period, but fruiting plants are recorded in
August.
Baijnath regarded J. fistulosa to be con specific also
with J. migiurtina (Chiov.) Baijnath, described from
Somalia. If the two species turn out to be conspecific, J.
fistulosa, the older name will have priority.
2. Jodrellia macrocarpa Baijnath
The species epithet ’macrocarpa’ refers to the inflated
fruits (in Greek, macro = large, carpus = fruit). It was
described in 1978 by Baijnath based on material from
Northern Kenya. It differs from the other species by its