Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Habitat and
distribution
Notes
Scadoxus multiflorus
Description
Habitat and
distribution
SCADOXUS 167
The species is native to moist afromontane; it is growing
on the forest floor or on tree trunks up to 10 m above
the ground (epiphytic), forming dense mats on trunks
and branches. So far it is only recorded from the Kefa
and Illubabor floristic regions, from 1000 to 2300 m. It
is a narrow endemic, not known outside this area. The
flowering period is from November to February. The
species must be regarded as threatened, particularly
since the forests in which it occurs are being heavily
exploited.
The nodding inflorescence indicates pollinators arriving
from below rather than from above. This trait is shared
with another rainforest species, S. cyrtanthiflorus (C.H.
Wright) Friis & Nordal, from the Ru wen sori mountains
in Uganda. Possibly, protection of flowers from heavy
rains gives the evolutionary background for this trait.
The phenomenon should be further studied. When the
seeds are mature, the in fru tescence turns upwards and
displays bright scarlet berries for animal (probably bird)
dispersal.
2. Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Rafinesque
The specific epithet ‘multiflorus’ means many-flowered,
and refers to the rich-flowered heads. The species is
recognised by its globose inflorescence with up to
150 flowers. It was described by the son of Linnaeus
(‘L.f.’) in 1781, but first validly published by Martyn as
Haemanthus multiflorus in 1795. Rafinesque transferred
it to his new genus Scadoxus in 1838.
Herb, up to 70 cm high. Leaves, produced at the same time or after
the flowering, form a distinct false stem, 10–40 cm, lateral to the
scape, leaf blade up to 40 × 7 cm. Inflorescence with membranous
bracts, sometimes partly fused, withering early, subtending the
globose inflorescence of 10 to 150 flowers. Pedicels 1–3 cm. Tepals
orange red to scarlet with a tube of 5–15 mm, segments spreading
12–25 × 1–2 mm. Berries globose, 0.5–1 cm in diameter.
The species is found in savannah woodlands and in riverine
and montane forests. It seems to prefer some shade, and
is growing on dark brown to blackish soils, from 1000 to
3000 m. It is found in almost all floristic regions within
Ethiopia and Eritrea, except in the lowlands, and is
widespread elsewhere in Tropical Africa west to Senegal,