Kniphofia bequaertii, De Wildeman, 1920

Fischer, Eberhard & Ackermann, Markus, 2019, A new species of Kniphofia (Asphodelaceae) from Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, Phytotaxa 391 (1), pp. 39-56 : 52-53

Identity of Kniphofia bequaertii

Kniphofia bequaertii was placed into synonymy of K. grantii by Robyns & Tournay (1955). Champluvier & Maquet (1988), and Geerinck (2015) stated that characters of the bracts are not always well-defined and difficult to recognise in herbarium specimens. However, in these two species the general aspects are very different. In living plants, the shape of the inflorescence is very characteristic ( Figs. 9–10 ) and they are also geographically and ecologically separated ( Figs. 11–12 ). The main diagnostic characters of the two species seem to be the shape of the raceme, the number of flowers, the shape and length of the bracts, and the different habitat, as well as overall distribution.

Kniphofia bequaertii is characterized by a dense, many-flowered, cylindrical raceme with horizontally spreading buds. Only a few buds at the top of the spike are orange coloured, whereas the rest change their colour from orange to yellow and the open flowers are decurved ( Fig. 9 ). In contrast, K. grantii has a few-flowered triangular-shaped raceme. All buds and flowers are decurved ( Fig. 10 ). Another good diagnostic character, especially in herbarium material, is the shape and size of the bracts, i.e. lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate with acute apex, 5–9 X 1–2 mm in K. bequaertii , and lanceolate to linear-lanceolate with acuminate apex, 7–18 X 1–2 mm in K. grantii ( Whitehouse 2002, 2016).

Kniphofia bequaertii is a typical Albertine Rift endemic. It is restricted to subalpine and alpine marshlands at 1800–3350 m elevation, ranging from the mountains northwest of Lake Edward up to Lake Kivu, and the western and northeastern mountains of Lake Tanganyika, with two known localities in the Marungu Plateau (D.R. Congo) and the Mahali Mountains ( Tanzania) ( Fig. 11 ). Kniphofia grantii is widespread in eastern Central Africa, growing in seasonally wet savanna habitats at 750–2700 m elevation, ranging from eastern Uganda to Tanzania, eastern DR Congo, Malawi and Zambia ( Fig. 12 ).

We regard K. bequaertii as distinct from K. grantii , following the views of Marais (1973) and Whitehouse (2002, 2016). We also provide a complete list of specimens for K. bequaertii and K. grantii in order to characterise their distribution.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Kniphofia bequaertii. A–B. Habit. C–D. Inflorescence. Photographs: E. Fischer, Rwanda, Mt. Muhabura, 13 October 2009.

FIGURE 10. Kniphofia grantii.A–B.Habit.C–D.Inflorescence.Photographs:R.v.Blittersdorf,A.21 December 2009, B–C.31 December 2010, D. 23 December 2008, Tanzania, Sumbawanga, Mbizi Forest (see Blittersdorf 2008–2010).

FIGURE 11. Known distribution of Kniphofia bequaertii (green dots).

FIGURE 12. Known distribution of Kniphofia grantii (pink dots).