Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

Fig. 119.
Eriospermum
triphyllum, from
Tanzania.
Eriospermum
triphyllum
Description
Habitat and
distribution
2. Eriospermum triphyllum Baker
ERIOSPERMUM 273
The species epithet refers to the habit of having, most
often, three leaves. It was described from Kenya by
Baker in 1893. Cufodontis described a species E. heterophyllum
from around Negelle in Sidamo (meaning with
differently shaped leaves), which falls within the variation
of the widespread E. triphyllum.
Tuber (sub)globose, 1.5–4 cm in diameter, crow ned with copious
fibers. Leaves 2–3 (–4) spreading, lanceolate without prominent
nerves, 5–10 × 1–2 cm. Peduncle 2–11(–15) cm long, pedicels
arcuate, 1–2.5 cm long. Tepals pale yellow, flushed red-pink outside
with green midrib, 6–9 × 1.5–2.5 mm. Capsules with three rooms,
8–10 × 8 mm. Seeds 3–4 × 2 mm covered with 7–8 mm long
hairs.
The species is found in open Com bre tum-Terminalia-
Acacia woodland between 1600 and 1700 m. It is only
found in Si damo floristic region, but it is otherwise
widespread in East Africa. The main flowering period in
Ethiopia is from April to October.