Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Chlorophytum
inconspicuum
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Chlorophytum
tuberosum
Description
CHLOROPHYTUM 147
9. Chlorophytum inconspicuum (Baker) Nordal
The species epithet refers to the inconspicuous habit of
this small plant. It was described by Baker, who referred
it to An thericum in 1877 based on material from Somalia,
later transferred to the genus Chlorophytum by Nordal in
1993. This species is recognised by its filiform leaves,
its reduced peduncle, its prostrate inflorescence, and the
relatively large capsules in comparison to the small plant
size.
Slender herb from a short rhizome, roots, thin in the proximal parts,
swelling to an elongated tubers distally. Leaves filiform or narrowly
linear, 10–25 × 0.1–0.3 cm, glabrous except for the sometimes
scabrid margins; basal sheaths whitish to purplish. Peduncle
reduced so that the lower flowers/fruits are found within the leaf
rosette. Inflorescence a very lax, simple raceme 2–15 cm long,
prostrate. Flowers 1–2 per node; pedicels 2–5 mm long, articulated
near or below the middle, glabrous ± recurved. Tepals white, with an
outside greenish stripe, 3–5 mm long, 3­veined. Capsule triquetrous,
8–10 × 5–6 mm when ripe, with withered perianth at the base. Seeds
deeply folded, c. 2 mm across.
The species is found in woodland or degraded bushland,
on shallow soils overlying volcanic rocks or limestone,
between 750 and 1800 m, recorded from the Shewa,
Si damo, and Harerge floristic regions in Ethiopia and
also in Eri trea. It is otherwise found in Somalia, Ye men,
Oman and North Kenya. The main flowering period is
from May to July.
10. Chlorophytum tuberosum (Roxb.) Baker
The species epithet refers to the roots that form large
tubers. The species was descri bed as an Anthericum by
Roxburgh in 1800 based on material from India, and
transferred to Chlorophytum by Baker in 1876. It is one
of the species with high potential as an ornamental plant
in the genus, due to the characteristic large, pure white
flowers about 3 cm in diameter, larger than in any other
Chlorophytum species.
Plants 20–40 cm high. Rhizome short irregular; roots swollen
with robust distal tubers up to 7 × 1 cm. Leaves rosulate, glabrous,
lanceolate, 10–40 × 1–3 cm. Peduncle, stout, 10–20 cm long, leafless,
glabrous, terete. Inflorescence unbranched, racemose, up to 15
cm long. Pedicels, 1–3 at each node, up to 10 mm long, articulated