''Kniphofia umbrina'', called the Eswati poker, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''

Kniphofia ''Kniphofia'' is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae, first described as a genus in 1794. Species are native to Africa. Common names include tritoma, red hot poker, torch lily and poker plant. Description Herbaceou ...

''. The species is native to an area near Forbes Reef in

Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

, just to the north of

Mbabane Mbabane (; ss, ÉMbábáne, ) is a city in Eswatini (previously called Swaziland), and is one of the two capitals (along with Lobamba), serving as the executive capital. With an estimated population of 94,874 (2010), it is located on the Mbaba ...

Description

Plants are herbaceous perennials which may grow up to tall. Stems emerge from a thick rhizome, with 6-8 leaves per stem. Flowers are brown, slightly scented, and form a raceme. It is similar in characteristics to '' Kniphofia typhoides''.

Habitat

The species is native to

sourveld Veld ( or ), also spelled veldt, is a type of wide open rural landscape in :Southern Africa. Particularly, it is a flat area covered in grass or low scrub, especially in the countries of South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Bot ...

, rocky grassland in a temperate climate. Soils in the area are acidic, high in clay and organic matter, and serpentiferous. Their observed distribution covers approximately . The habitat falls on Swazi Nation Land, as well as on the

Hawane Nature Reserve Hawane Nature Reserve was first established in 1978 to protect an area of marsh along the Mbuluzi River in Eswatini. This area included the natural habitat of '' Kniphofia umbrina'', a rare Eswatini endemic red hot poker. When the Hawane dam was ...

Conservation

The species was first listed by the IUCN as vulnerable in 1978 after a detailed survey. There were between 3,000 and 4,000 estimated individuals. The population was initially threatened by

maize Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...

cultivation and road construction. Conservation measures were undertaken, including translocating individuals into

Malolotja Nature Reserve 280px, View on the national park Malolotja National Park covers of mountain wilderness on Eswatini's northwestern border with South Africa. The park includes Ngwenya Mountain, Eswatini's second highest mountain (1,829 m), and Malolotja Falls which ...

and collecting seeds. The population of 1,900 transplants eventually went extinct. Between 1978 and 1985, the population declined 92%, down to only 357 known plants. This was attributed to increased pressure by grazing, agriculture, and the construction of a dam. In 2001, the species was reassessed as critically endangered.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15574304 umbrina Flora of Swaziland Critically endangered plants