Kniphofia triangularis subsp. triangularis

Kniphofia triangularis subsp. triangularis, the common mandarin poker, is a rhizomatous, tufted perennial reaching 60 cm in height.

The soft, grass-like leaves are narrow, curved and keeled, forming a V-shape in cross-section. The leaf margins are smooth or finely toothed. Leaf dimensions are 28 cm to 60 cm long and 3 mm to 6 mm wide.

The species distribution is in southern KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern Free State and the eastern parts of the Eastern Cape, as well as in Lesotho. The photo was taken near Makhanda (Grahamstown).

The habitat is moist or peaty mountain grassland in sandstone derived soils and along streambanks. The subspecies is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).