Kniphofia northiae

When not in flower, the broad-leaved poker or Kniphofia northiae, a robust grower, may still be recognised by its broad, leathery leaves that have no keels. Inner leaves in the rosette are narrower. Leaves are up to 1 m long.

In flower the plant reaches heights around 1,7 m. The dense inflorescence has pinkish red buds and orange-red, yellow or whitish flowers, colours varying across the species distribution. The stamens are exserted. Flowering happens from before midspring and through summer.

The species distribution is in the northeast of the Eastern Cape, the southwest in KwaZulu-Natal, maybe in the far east of the Free State. It also grows in Lesotho where this photo was taken.

The habitat is basalt cliffs, in montane grassland along seepage lines, damp gullies and near streams. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Pooley, 1998; Trauseld, 1969; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).