Compilation
Gloriosa abyssinica

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Name

Identification
Isotype of Gloriosa abyssinica A. Rich. [family COLCHICACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Data not digitized, Gloriosa abyssinica A. Rich. [family COLCHICACEAE ] Verified by Data not digitized,
Related name
  • Clinostylis speciosa
  • Gloriosa graminifolia
  • Gloriosa abyssinica
  • Gloriosa superba

Flora

Entry for GLORIOSA superba L. [family COLCHICACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Somalia
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora Somalia, Vol 4, (1995) Author: by M. Thulin [updated by M. Thulin 2008]
Names
GLORIOSA superba L. [family COLCHICACEAE], (1753). Fig. 44.
GLORIOSA simplex L. [family COLCHICACEAE], (1767).
GLORIOSA abyssinica Franch. var. graminifolia [family COLCHICACEAE], (1882);. type: N3, “Karoma”, Révoil s.n. (P holo., not seen).
GLORIOSA graminifolia (Franch.) Chiov. [family COLCHICACEAE], (1916);. type: N3, “Karoma”, Révoil s.n. (P holo., not seen).
Littonia baudii Terr. [family COLCHICACEAE], (1892);
GLORIOSA baudii (Terr.) Chiov. [family COLCHICACEAE], (1916). [type as above]
GLORIOSA minor Rendle [family COLCHICACEAE], (1896).
GLORIOSA graminifolia Chiov. var. heterophylla [family COLCHICACEAE], in Result. Scient. Miss. Stefanini-Paoli: 176 (1916);. types: S3, near “Chisimaio”, Paoli 146 (FT syn.) & near “Torda”, Paoli 302 (FT syn.).
GLORIOSA aurea Chiov. [family COLCHICACEAE], (1928);. types: N3, “Nogal” valley, Puccioni & Stefanini 855, 934 (FT syn.).
Information
Plant erect or scandent, up to several meters long, but sometimes less than 0.4 m tall, glabrous or almost so. Leaves spreading, linear to ovate, 60–250 x 2–50 mm. Flowers usually yellow, orange or red with yellow centre, rarely white on pedicels 45–200 mm long. Tepals 35–80 x 5–30 mm, acute, often with undulate margins. Filaments 12–50 mm long; anthers 5–13 mm long. Ovary oblong, glabrous; style 12–50 mm long with branches 2.5–10 mm long. Capsule 20–60 x 10–25 mm. Seeds subglobose, c. 4–5 mm in diam.
Range
N1–3; C2; S1–3 widespread in Africa and S Asia, also cultivated elsewhere as an ornamental.
Altitude range
20–850 m.
Distribution
SOMALIA Kazmi, Elmi & Rodol 642; Thulin & Warfa 4626; Hemming 1635.
Notes
Adin tuki, dabalole, tamaior (Som.-N); faraji diil, gheloac (Som.-S).A highly variable species. Three forms can roughly be distiguished in Somalia, a scandent more or less broad-leaved and large-flowered plant in S1–3 agreeing with typical G. superba (e.g. Kazmi, Elmi & Rodol 642), a more or less erect, narrow-leaved and small-flowered plant in all parts of the country agreeing with G. baudii and G. minor (e. g. Thulin & Warfa 5819), and an erect, fairly broad-leaved and large-flowered plant in N3 agreeing with G. aurea (e.g. Hemming 1635). Vinnersten & Manning (2007) found molecular support for the recognition of G. baudii, but no material representing, for example, G. aurea was included in their study. In the material from Somalia several specimens are difficult to place and the subdivision also breaks down outside Somalia (for example erect, narrow-leaved and large-flowered plants are found in Tanzania). For the present, I therefore follow Field (1972) in recognizing a single species only. Used as a cure against snake-bites.

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