Kniphofia triangularis subsp. triangularis, the Mandarin poker

Kniphofia triangularis, commonly the Mandarin poker, is one of the Kniphofia species at home in the Drakensberg. This plant, K. triangularis subsp. triangularis grows in the southern Drakensberg and lower down, while subsp. obtusiloba is found to the north, mainly in the Mpumalanga Drakensberg.

Solitary or in small groups among the grass, these flowers are seen at altitudes up to 2500 m. The flowers rarely change colour from bud stage to old flowers, while bicoloured flowers are a feature of many Kniphofia species.

The same is true about the aloes, Kniphofia’s relative in the Asphodelaceae family: Many Aloe flowers start off red and turn yellow when they open or age (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).