Aloes and Lilies of Ethiopia and Eritrea

328 VELLOZIACEAE
Habitat and
distribution
Xerophyta
rippsteinii
Description
Habitat and
distribution
Xerophyta humilis
Description
Africa. The main flowering period in Ethiopia and Eritrea
is from April to November.
b. var. somaliense (Terracc.) Lye
This subspecies was as the name tells described from
Somalia. It grows in shallow soil pockets on rocks or dry
sandy open habitats in low rainfall areas between 300 and
700 m. Within Ethiopia it is only known from Harerge
floristic region. The flowering period is from Novemer to
December, thus not overlapping with the other variety.
2. Xerophyta rippsteinii Smith, Lebrun & Stork
The species is named after the collector of the type
material, Rippstein. It appears to be a more densely
pubescent relative of X. schnitzleinia, and was described
as late as in 1986.
Plants forming tussocks of unbranched stems. Leaves linear,
strongly recurved, up to 10 × 0.7 cm, lower surface densely covered
with simple or compound hairs. Flowers solitary on stalks, 2–5 cm
long. Top of the peduncle and ovary densely covered with thick stiff
simple hairs. Tepals 15–25 mm long; anthers yellow, c. 12 mm long.
Capsule as wide or wider than long, 10 mm wide, densely covered
with stiff hairs.
The species grows on sandy soil in rocky outcrops
between 400 and 500 m. It is a local endemic in Bale
floristic region and adjacent parts of Somalia.
3. Xerophyta humilis (Baker) Th. Dur. & Schinz
The species epithet means low­growing (close to the soil,
humus), and it is one of the smallest representatives of the
genus. It is further recognized by the glandular ovaries
and capsules. Baker described it first in 1889 in the genus
Vellozia, based on material from South Africa.
Small plants forming dense tussocks or mats. Leaves forming
rosettes on the ground, 2–6 × 0.1–0.2 cm, stiff, often dark purple,
glabrous but scabrid on margin. Flowers solitary on stalks up to 5.5
cm long, with scattered glandular hairs. Tepals 7–10(–15) mm long;
anthers 3 mm long. Capsule subglobose, 4–6 × 5–8 mm in diameter,
covered with globular glands.