Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

194 HYACINTHACEAE
Habitat and
distribution
Ledebouria urceolata
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Ledebouria
cordifolia
Description
The species has only been collected once, in the Wellega
floristic region, and no information is available on habitat
and flowering period.
4. Ledebouria urceolata Stedje
The species epithet refers to the flower form, wich means
urn­shaped. It was described by Stedje in 1995, based on
material from the Bale floristic region. In all the other
representatives of the genus the tepals are reflexed for
more than half of their length, but in this species only
the outermost parts are recurved. It is possibly the most
ornamental of the species with its deep purple bell­shaped
nodding flowers.
Plants up to 30 cm. Leaves lanceolate, up to 9 × 3 cm. Inflorescence
3–12 cm long, moderately dense with up to 50 flowers. Pedicels
5–10 mm. Flowers purple, urn­ to bell­shaped. Tepals 4–6 × c. 3
mm. Filaments c. 4 mm long. Capsule c. 5 mm long.
The species is found in rocky outcrops or on stony river
banks between 2500 and 2700 m. It is recorded from
the Gojam, Shewa, and Bale floristic regions, and it is
not known elsewhere. Flowering period from August to
September.
5. Ledebouria cordifolia (Baker) Stedje & Thulin
The species epithet ‘cordifolia’ means that the leaves
are cordate, that is more or less heart­shaped. It was
described by Baker in 1898 in the genus Scilla, based on
material from Malawi, and later transferred to the genus
Ledebouria by Stedje and Thulin in 1995. It is a striking
little plant with one or a few prostrate leaves, clasping
the stem, often covered by purple papillae and with rather
small flowers.
Plants small, up to 15 cm. Leaves cordate to broadly lanceolate,
usually petiolate, leaf blade up to 8 × 4,5 cm, often covered with
purple papillae on the upper surface. Inflorescence up to 8 cm long
with up to 60 flowers. Pedicels 5–8 mm long. Flowers purplish, with
tepals 3–4 mm long. Capsules and seeds not seen.