Compilation
Kniphofia goetzei

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Name

Identification
Kniphofia goetzei Engl. [family LILIACEAE ] Verified by Marais, W., Kniphofia thomsonii Baker [family LILIACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Not on sheet.,
Related name
  • Kniphofia goetzei
  • Kniphofia thomsonii

Flora

Entry for KNIPHOFIA goetzei Engl. [family ]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (2002) Author: CHRISTOPHER WHITEHOUSE
Names
KNIPHOFIA goetzei Engl. [family ], in E.J. 30: 273 (1901) & V.E. 2: fig. 214/f–g (1908); A. Berger in E.P. IV, 38: 52, fig. 20/f–g (1908). Type: Tanzania, Mbeya District, Usafwa [Usafua], Poroto Mts, Goetze 1045 (B, holo., K!, photo., K!, iso.)
KNIPHOFIA thomsonii [family ], [sensu Marais in K.B. 28: 467 (1973), pro parte; Cribb & Leedal, Mountain Fl. S. Tanz.: 189 (1982), pro parte; Blundell, Wild Fl. E. Afr.: 423 (1987), pro minore parte, non Baker]
Information
Perennial herb presumably from a thick rhizome with fleshy roots. Leaves in a rosette, the outer basal ones sheathing so forming a pseudostem that is often decumbent and trailing up to 1.2 m, sometimes rooting; the lamina lanceolate, 50–170 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide towards the base. Inflorescence 50–150 cm high; peduncle 7–9 mm in diameter; raceme lax to dense, 9–17 cm long, 4–6.5 cm wide; fertile bracts ovate to triangular, 4–10 mm long, 2–3 mm wide at the base, obtuse to acute at the apex, the keel ± equalling the margins; pedicels 2–5 mm long. Flowers orange outside, yellow inside and towards the mouth of the tube at anthesis, ± held horizontally to slightly pendent, only slightly decurved; the perianth-tube 22–30 mm long, 5–8 mm wide at the mouth, 2–3 mm wide around the ovary, not or barely constricted above the ovary, 2–3 mm wide, the lobes triangular, 1–2 mm long; stamens and style included within the tube or slightly exserted. Immature capsule ovoid, ± 4 mm long, ± 3 mm wide.
Range
DISTR. T 7 not known elsewhere
Altitude range
1700–2400 m
Distribution
TANZANIA Iringa District above Lugoda Tea Estate factory, 11 May 1968, Renvoize 2110! & Ulete, below Ghaui’s farm, 20 May 1986, J. & J. Lovett 727!;TANZANIA Rungwe District Mwakaleli, Mwatesi R., 9 May 1975, Hepper, Field & Mhoro 5460!
Notes
Has only been collected in flower between May and June.Previously sunk by Marais into K. thomsonii, but, as with so many Kniphofia, although it is difficult to pinpoint a clear distinguishing character, the general facies of the plants look different; the geographical separation of the two populations has led me to resurrect this species. The darker keel of the bracts of K. thomsonii usually extends beyond the more membranous margins, often forming a long filiform apex, whereas in K. goetzei the margins and the keel meet together in an acute apex. The shape, size and position of the flowers also look different, especially the lack of constriction of the tube above the ovary, but all the characters need to be taken together so it is hard to produce a good dichotomy. Studies in the field may provide better characters upon which to separate these species.Marais drew attention to the different habit of some of these collections, with long trailing decumbent stems. Most of the specimens of K. goetzei appear to show this character and it may be a feature of the species; alternatively, some specimens of K. thomsonii also appear to have these pseudostems (e.g. Greenway 7812, Arusha District, Mt Meru, S slope, 23 June 1946) and it may be more an adaptation to the habitat in which the plant is growing. Richards 7711 (Njombe District, Kipengere Mts, Mtorwi Peak, 13 Jan. 1957) might possibly be a poor specimen of this species. It was growing on a steep rocky mountain side at ± 2900 m; it has a very lax raceme with ovate bracts and short pale orange flowers, lighter at the tip. It might otherwise be a very stunted form of K. princeae, but more and better material is needed.

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