1024.000 Kniphofia Moench - Red-hot pokers

Clump-forming robust plants (in ours) with a small rhizome. Leaves linear, rosulate to subdistichous, usually keeled. Peduncle terminal. Inflorescence a simple raceme of numerous flowers. Bracts persistent, scarious, longer than pedicels. Pedicels articulated at apex. Flowers spreading or pendulous, yellow and often red near the apex. Perianth fused to form a campanulate to cylindric or ± funnel-shaped tube for more than 3/ 4 of its length; lobes short, unequal. Ovary sessile, ovoid. Capsule spherical to ovoid, triquetrous. Seeds ± flattened, acutely 3-angled or winged.

Derivation of name: For J.J. Kniphof, 1704-1765, professor at Erfurt, Germany

Worldwide: 65 species, mainly tropical and South Africa; 1 in Arabia and 1 in Madagascar

Malawi: 6 taxa.