Clivia nobilis
Pronounciation:no-bil-LIS
Common Name: Bush Lily, Bos Lelie
Distribution: South African, Eastern Cape province

General

The genus Clivia was named after the Duchess of Northumberland; Lady Charlotte Florentine Clive. Clivia nobilis is the type species of the genus, as this was the first Clivia to be collected in 1815 near the mouth of the Great Fish River in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. It was collected by William Burchell. It was also the first of the genus to be descibed, by John Lindley.

Range and Habitat
Clivia nobilis only occurs in the Eastern Cape Province, normally along the coast, from just north of the Sundays River Mouth to the Mbashe River. It is usually found under evergreen forest, low bush and amongst dune vegetation. Inland populations are found in wooded kloofs where they grow on riverbanks, rocky outcrops and along forest margins.

 

 

 

 

Measurements
Clivia nobilis has stiff, rough edged strap like leaves. The leaves are 30-80 cm long and 2-5 cm broad. The tip of the leaf is indented and has a faint median stripe. The inflorescence is made up of an umbel of 15 to 50 pendulous, tubular flowers on a 20 cm long flower stalk. These range in colour from pink to dark orange to dark red with green tips. After flowering and successfull pollination, the berries swell up and slowly turn from green to burgundy red. Each berry usually contains 1 to 2 seeds. The berries take about 9 months to ripen.