Key to the Clivia Species

A dichotomous key elicits responses to a series of yes or no questions, whose answers narrow your choices until you have identified the plant.

Flowers trumpet-shaped, spreading to erect, pedicels thick, radiating.…C. miniata

If not, continue.

Flowers tubular, nodding to pendant, pedicels narrow, erect to arched

If yes, continue.

Rhizome caulescent with age, plants lithophytic………………………..C. caulescens

If not, continue

Rhizome acaulescent, plants terrestrial

If yes, continue.

Perianth straight, pedicels orange red or purple at flowering…………..C. mirabilis

Perianth curved, pedicels green at flowering

If yes, continue.

Leaves leathery, apexes of leaves rounded or notched, margins serrated..C. nobilis

If no, continue.

Leaves soft textured, apexes of leaves pointed, margins entire.

If yes, continue.

Stigma and stamens usually included within or just emerging beyond the perianth,

leaves broad (up to 90 mm diam.), plants robust……………………..…C. robusta

If no, continue.

Stigma and stamens usually well exserted beyond perianth, leaves relatively

narrow (up to 50 mm diam), plants gracile…………………………..….C. gardenii.

Definitions:

pedicel:  flower stem.

rhizome: horizonatal underground stems.

caulescent:  having a stem.

lithophytic:  growing on or among rocks.

acaulescent:  without a stem.

perianth:  the calyx and corolla of a flower, collectively.

entire: not toothed, notched or divided.

exserted:  projecting beyond surrounding parts.

Adapted from:  Duncan, Graham.  Grow Clivias. 2nd  ed.  Kirstenbosch, S.A.:  South African National Biodiversity Institute, 2008.

Excerpted from:  Duncan, Graham.  Grow Clivias.  2nd ed. Cape Town, S. A:  South African National Biodiversity Institute, 2008.