Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Chlorophytum
herrmanni
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Chlorophytum
gallabatense
Description
CHLOROPHYTUM 151
The main flowering period is from May to June, but
flowers have also been collected in November.
13. Chlorophytum herrmanni Nordal & Sebsebe
The species epithet honours Christof Herr mann, who
has recently collected several interesting plants in the
western parts of the Wellega floristic region, and was
described by Nordal & Sebsebe (2005). The species
was accordingly not in cluded in the Flora of Ethiopia
and Eritrea. It belongs among the species with prostrate
inflorescence, but differs from the others by its very
branched inflorescence and pubescent leaf undersides.
Short horizontal rhizomes with fleshy roots. Leaves rosulate,
petiolate, lanceolate, up to 20 × 3.5 cm; acute with hyaline, crisply
undulate margin, ciliate on margin and the veines on the abaxial
part of the leaf. Peduncle 2–2.5 cm long prostrate, with short hairs.
Inflorescence conspicuously branched, 4–12 cm long, also flat on
the ground. Bracts large and leaf­like, up to 15 × 5 mm, ciliate on
margin and veins. Flowers 2–4 at each node. Pedicels not curved,
5–6 mm at anthesis, articulated in lower half. Flowers white with
brownish tips, tepals 5–6 × 2 mm long with 3–5 veins. Stamens
shorter than the tepals, filaments 3–4 mm, anthers 2 mm. Styles
straight, ca. 5 mm. Fruits and seeds not known.
The plants grow on open rocky outcrops in the bamboo
forest, at 1590 m. It is so far only known from the Assosa
area in the Wel lega floristic region, and is accordingly a
narrow en demic in Ethiopia. The main flowering period
is in June.
14. Chlorophytum gallabatense Schweinf. ex
Baker
The species epithet refers to the Gallabat area between
Ethiopia and the Sudan, where it was collected by
Schweinfurth and later published by Baker in 1876. It
is recognised by its very undulate leaves, its branched
inflorescence and small greenish to yellowish flowers.
Plants 15–60 (–75) cm high. Rhizome horizontal, short, moniliform.
Roots fairly narrow, shortly branched, bearing tubers (2–3 × 1.5
cm) mainly on the lateral branches. Leaves rosulate, (3–) 5–8 to
a stem, glabrous, lanceolate, broadest at the middle, narrowed and