Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Reproduction
Conservation
Key to the species
SCADOXUS 165
flowered umbels, with narrow short tubes. The segments
are spreading or more or less erect. The filaments are red,
carrying small, yellow, dorsifixed anthers. The straight
style ends in a minute stigma. The fruits are ovoid
to globose, berries, brightly red to orange, with 1–3
relatively large, pale and fleshy seeds.
The red flower heads are conspicuous and attractive to
butterflies with a proboscis longer than 1 cm. The red
colour of the berries suggests bird dispersal. Exact data
on pollination and dispersal are, however, lacking. The
berries are probably poisonous to man, as they contain
alkaloids.
Of the three species, Scadoxus nutans is the only
endemic, growing in rain forests threatened by habitat
destruction. Habitat destruction is thus the major threat
to the existence of this species, and protection is needed.
The two other species, S. multiflorus and S. puniceus,
are widespread (but local races in Ethiopia of both
species might represent endemic genotypes, accordingly
deserving special attention, see below).
The species of the genus (often called ‘fireball lilies’)
are spectacular and may be of horticultural interest. S.
multiflorus is easily cultivated.
1. Underground organ rhizomatous; inflorescence nodding, berries subglobose
1. S. nutans
- Underground organ with a distinct bulb, although the rhizomatous part might be
elongated; inflorescence erect; berries globose 2
2. Inflorescence a semi-globose to globose umbel; involucral bracts
membranaceous, most often colourless and early drooping; free tepals
spreading during anthesis 2. S. multiflorus
- Inflorescence a conical umbel; involucral bracts herbaceous, persistent,
suberect to erect, green, sometimes spotted or tinged purplish; free tepals
erect to suberect during anthesis 3. S. puniceus