Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

286 DRACAENACEAE
Sansevieria fischeri
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Sansevieria
erythraeae
Description
Habitat and
distribution
3. Sansevieria fischeri (Baker) Marais
The specific epithet ‘fischeri’ was given in honour of
Fischer, who collected the type specimen from East
Africa. The species was described as Boo pha ne fischeri
by Baker in 1898, and transferred to Sanse vieria by
Marais in 1986.
It differs from the related species, S. ery th raeae, in
having solitary leaves.
Plant without an aerial stem. Leaves solitary, erect, rigid; cylindrical,
45–160(–240) × 2–5 cm, slightly tapering upwards; apex suddenly
narrowed to a stout white spine­like tip; outer surface with 4–6
furrows on the sides and back, which extend from base to apex, and
a narrow concave channel all along above; surface slightly rough,
marked with numerous closely placed transverse pale green bands,
not always seen in older leaves. Inflorescence a spike-like raceme.
Free parts of tepals 5–13 mm long, linear, obtuse; tube 20–50 mm
long. Fruit not seen.
Habitat unknown; but the only specimen seen was
collected along a river in Bale floristic region. It also
occurs in Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania.
4. Sansevieria erythraeae Mattei
The specific epithet ‘erythraeae’ refers to the fact that the
plants in Palermo Botanic Gardens in Sicily, from which
the species was described by Mattei in 1918, originated
from Eritrean seed material.
It differs from the related species, S. fischeri, in having
6–8 leaves. In contrast, S. fischeri has solitary leaves.
Plant without an aerial stem, growing in patches. Leaves 6–8
together, irregularly arranged, cylin dri cal, pointed, erect, 40–50 cm
long, with a short channel above and 5 furrows or grooves on the
outside. Inflorescence a leafy raceme, almost as tall as the leaves;
bracts membranaceous, ovate­lanceolate, acute. Flowers in clusters
of 3–5, whi te, sweet smelling; pedicel 7–8 mm long, slender.
Perianth tube 5–7 mm, narrow; lobes linear, sub obtuse, revolute.
Fruit not seen.
The species grows along river sides in semi­arid areas
between 1200 and 2100 m in Eritrea. It probably also
occurs in the Sudan.