Chlorophytum africanum var. silvaticum (Dammer) Meerts

Anthericaceae, Nordal (University of Oslo), Shakkie Kativu (University of Zimbabwe) & Axel D. Poulsen (University of Copenhagen). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1997

Morphology General Habit

Plants often clumped, 10–25 cm.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome short, moniliform, densely covered with fibrous remains of old leaf-bases; roots spongy, fusiform, occasionally reduced to sessile or subsessile tuberous structures.

Morphology Leaves Cataphylls

Cataphylls ± membranous, often whitish with green veins and crisped membranous margin.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves rosulate, linear-lanceolate, ± canaliculate, glabrous, 5–40 cm. long, (2–)5–15 mm. wide; margins often undulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle without leaves, slender, terete, glabrous to slightly pubescent, particularly in upper part, up to 20 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a dense, subspicate raceme, very rarely forked at the base, 3–12 cm. long; floral bracts linear to lanceolate, usually greenish, rarely reddish, up to 10 mm. long, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels articulated at the apex, short, 1–3(–7) mm. long, solitary at the nodes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth white, ± bell-shaped, slightly constricted above the ovary; tepals connate, cucullate, 5–7 mm. long, 1–2 mm. wide, 1-veined, papillose inside at the constriction.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens exserted; filaments filiform, 3–4 mm. long; anthers small, 1 mm. long, versatile, twisted after anthesis, much shorter than the filaments.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style exserted, ± straight.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule triquetrous, deeply lobed, 2–4 mm. long, 3–6 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds disc-shaped, ± 2.5 mm. in diameter.

Habitat

In open woodland ( Acacia-Commiphora or Brachystegia ) and grassland, often on ± degraded, badly drained, loamy or sandy, blackish or reddish soils; 100–2300 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T7 T8

Flora Zambesiaca Anthericaceae by S. Kativu, G. Hoell, C.S. Bjorå & I. Nordal

Morphology General Habit

Plants often clumped, up to 45 cm high.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome vertical, regularly constricted, densely covered with fibrous remains of old leaf bases.

Morphology Roots

Roots spongy, fusiform, occasionally reduced to sessile or subsessile tubers.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves in basal rosette, linear-lanceolate, 7–34 cm × 4–12 mm, glabrous, margins slightly undulate, cataphylls often with brownish reticulate coloration.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle slender, terete, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence dense, subspicate, rarely forked at base, 3–15 cm long; floral bracts lanceolate, up to 10 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels solitary, articulated at apex, c.2 mm long in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth united basally, slightly bell-shaped, white; tepals 6 mm long, narrow, 1-veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens slightly exserted; anthers small c.1 mm long, much shorter than filiform filaments.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary sessile; style exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule subglobose, 3-angled, deeply lobed, c.3 × 5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds disk-shaped, 2.5−2.7 mm across.

Distribution

Also in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Ecology

In open woodland and grassland, on loamy soils; 400–1400 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Widespread species; not threatened.