Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

150 ANTHERICACEAE
Chlorophytum
humifusum
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Fig. 78.
Chlorophytum
humifusum,
cultivated plant
originally from
near Negelle,
Sidamo floristic
region.
12. Chlorophytum humifusum Cufo dontis
The species epithet ‘humifusum’ means ‘spreading on the
ground’ (cfr. hu mus = organic mould), and refers to the
prostrate inflorescences which characterize this species.
It was described by Cufodontis in 1939, based on plants
he had collected in the Sidamo floristic region. Among
the Chloro phytum species with prostrate inflorescences,
it can be recognised by the distichous leaf arrangement,
i.e. the leaves are organised in two ranks.
Small plants, rarely more than 12 cm, from a moniliform rhizome;
roots wiry, shortly branched, bearing small tubers (up to 1 × 0.5 cm)
mainly on the lateral root branches. Leaves more or less distichous,
glabrous, narrowly lanceolate, petiolate, up to 12 × 1 cm, peduncle
only up to 1 cm long. Inflorescence, up to 15 cm long, lying flat on
ground, simple or with one basal branch, lax, elongated internodes,
rachis scabrid; floral bracts up to 4 mm, sometimes ciliate. Flowers
1 (–2) at each node. Pedicels 6–8 mm at anthesis, elongating slightly
in fruit, articulation in lower half. Perianth open, white, tepals 5–7
mm long, 3­veined. Capsule c. 4 × 4 mm, seeds not known.
The species grows in shallow stony soils in Acacia-
Commiphora bushland or woodland between 1000
and 1300 m, in the Sidamo and Bale floristic regions.
Otherwise it is only known from adjacent parts of Kenya.