Chlorophytum recurvifolium (Baker) C. Archer & Kativu

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Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Mutinondo Wilderness Lodge, Lavushi Manda District, Muchinga Province

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Synonyms:	Anthericum longistylum Baker Anthericum polyphyllum Baker Anthericum recurvifolium Baker Chlorophytum polyphyllum (Baker) Kativu
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Plants tufted, 25–95 cm high. Rhizome short, horizontal, regularly constricted, covered with fibrous remains of old leaf bases. Roots many, wiry, bearing tubers at tips. Leaves many, forming a rosette, 9–45 cm × 2–5 mm, often recurved, narrowly linear, folded, clasping below, acute; margins minutely papillate. Peduncle terete, bracteate, glabrous, up to 22.5 cm long; lower bracts leaf-like, upper ones smaller. Inflorescence a lax ascending panicle, seldom unbranched; rachis terete, glabrous; outer floral bracts ovate, aristate, auriculate, papillate on margins, inner ones smaller, divided to notched, glabrous, with apices unequal. Pedicels solitary, articulated below middle, up to 5 mm long in fruit. Perianth reflexed, white; tepals c.13 mm long, 3-veined. Stamens declinate, two slightly shorter, in 2+4 arrangement; filaments as long as anthers, slightly dilated. Capsule obovate, shallowly deltoid, beaked at apex at maturity, transversely ridged, 8–13 mm long. Seeds irregularly folded, c.1.2 mm across.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	recurvifolium: with recurved leaves.
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Oct - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	DRC, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa (Northern Province and KawZulu Natal) and Swaziland
Mozambique distribution:	M
Growth form(s):	Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Archer, C. & Kativu, S. (2001). The Correct name in Chlorophytum for Anthericum longistylum Bothalia 31(1) Pages 40 - 41. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 8. Kativu, S., Hoell, G., Bjorå, C. S. & Nordal, I. (2008). Anthericaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(1) Pages 56 - 57. Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 54. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 85. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 114.

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Flora of Botswana: Chlorophytum recurvifolium
Flora of Zambia: Chlorophytum recurvifolium
Flora of Zimbabwe: Chlorophytum recurvifolium

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Chlorophytum recurvifolium
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Chlorophytum recurvifolium
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Chlorophytum recurvifolium
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Chlorophytum recurvifolium
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Chlorophytum recurvifolium
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Chlorophytum recurvifolium
JSTOR Plant Science: Chlorophytum recurvifolium
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Chlorophytum recurvifolium
Plants of the World Online: Chlorophytum recurvifolium
Tropicos: Chlorophytum recurvifolium
Wikipedia: Chlorophytum recurvifolium