Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Description
Habitat and
distribution
Chlorophytum
macrophyllum
Description
CHLOROPHYTUM 159
complex, C. comosum. It differs by having one-flowered
nodes (vs. usually 2–4-flowered) and by its shorter and
distinctly ciliate leaves. The ecology is also different,
C. comosum grows in forests and riverine vegetation,
whereas C. serpens grows in woodland, influenced by
regular fires. It was discovered in 2001 by Sebsebe and
collaborators, and was described by Sebsebe & Nordal
(2005).
Rhizome extremely short. Roots short, ending in distinct tubers.
Leaves rosulate, petiolate, broadly lanceolate with ciliate
margins.7–10 × 2–3 cm. Peduncles lax, arcuate, glabrous.
Inflorescence elongate, up to 50 cm long, simple or with one branch;
bracts 5–15 mm, acute to acuminate. Pedicels, single at the nodes,
articulated near or below the middle, 4–8 mm long. Perianth white,
tepals patent, 3–5 mm long, 3–veined. Stamens shorter than the
tepals. Capsules not known. Always producing small plantlets from
the bracts of the inflorescence, pseudovivipary.
The species grows in Combretum-Termi nalia woodland
around 1100 m, and is only known from one locality in
the Gojam floristic region, about 70 km from Chagni
towards Guba. It flowers in July. More information is
needed.
23. Chlorophytum macrophyllum (A. Richard)
Ascherson
The species epithet ‘macrophyllum’ refers to the wide
leaves of this species. It was described by Richard as
Anthericum in 1850, based on plants from Tigray. Ascherson
transferred it to Chlorophytum in 1867. The species is
among the largest and most robust Chlorophytum species,
with a very dense inflorescence. If it had not been for the
fact that the white flowers soon turn brownish, the plant
might have potential as an ornamental.
Plants, often in clumps, 30–90 cm high. Rhizome short, compact;
roots thick, spongy with spindle shaped elongated tubers up to 6 cm
long. Leaves rosulate, petiolate, broadly lanceolate, glabrous, with
undulate or crisped margins, 15–90 × 3–7 cm. Peduncle leafless
(or with a few steril bracts connected to the inflorescence), stout,
erect, glabrous up to 50 cm long. Inflorescence up to 30 cm, dense,
unbranched, or sometimes with 1–2 branches in lower part; rachis
slightly scabrid; floral bracts 10–25 mm, drying off blackish. Pedicels
fascicled, up to 9 at a node, articulated in the middle or upper half,
8–13 mm long. Perianth white; patent, but slightly urceolate around