{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox | status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author= Darbyshire, I. |author2= Nemomissa, S. |author3= Demissew, S. |author4= Lulekal, E. |author5= Wondafrash, M. |author6= Mehari, L. |author7= Belay, B. |author8= Abebe, W. |author9= Daba, D. |author10= Feseha, T. |author11= Genanaw, B. |author12= Lemma, S. |author13= Lidetu, H. |author14= Mekbib, E. |author15= Mewded, B. |author16= Shimelse, S. |date=2021 |title= ''Scadoxus nutans'' |volume=2021 |article-number= e.T147861752A223062346 |doi= 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T147861752A223062346.en |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> |taxon=Scadoxus nutans |authority=(Friis & I.Bjørnstad) Friis & Nordal<ref name=WCSP_287368/> |synonyms={{Species list|Haemanthus nutans|Friis & I.Bjørnstad}} |synonyms_ref=<ref name=WCSP_287368/> }}
'''''Scadoxus nutans''''' is a herbaceous plant endemic to southwest Ethiopia. Its red to pink flowers face downwards as the top of the flowering stem bends over, unlike any of the other species of ''Scadoxus''. It grows mainly as an epiphyte in tropical mountain forests, which are disappearing, making the species vulnerable to extinction. It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant.
==Description==
''Scadoxus nutans'' grows from a rhizome, with growth occurring mainly in spring and autumn.<ref name=Hutc14/> The whole plant is usually {{convert|30|–|50|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} tall, occasionally as high as {{convert|1|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=HutcWond11/> The overlapping bases of the leaf stalks (petioles) form a false stem or pseudostem, which emerges from the side of last year's pseudostem.<ref name=Hutc14/> The pseudostem is green, marked with brown spots, and is about {{convert|25|–|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long. The narrow leaf blades have wavy edges and spread out from the pseudostem, being up to {{convert|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|8|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name=HutcWond11/>
The flowers are borne on a leafless stalk (scape), which is bent over during flowering so that the flowers face downwards. no other species of ''Scadoxus'' has similarly nodding flowers.<ref name=Hutc14/> The umbel of 2–30 flowers has a dense brush-like appearance and is surrounded by a number of bracts, which persist until fruiting occurs. Individual flowers are carried on short stems (pedicels), less than {{convert|1|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long, and have red to pink tepals, fused at the base for about {{convert|8|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} with narrow free segments up to {{convert|20|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=HutcWond11/><ref name=NordDunc84/> When the flowers fade and fruits are formed, the scape straightens, so that the ripe red berries, about {{convert|15|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} long, are held upright. The sticky seeds are elongated, about {{convert|10|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} wide. All other species of ''Scadoxus'' have ovoid or spherical seeds.<ref name=Hutc14/><ref name=HutcWond11/>
==Taxonomy==
The species was first described in 1971 by Ib Friis and Inger Bjørnstad, being initially placed in the genus ''Haemanthus''.<ref name=HutcWond11/> In 1976, the same two authors (the latter under a different surname) transferred the species to ''Scadoxus'' as part of their segregation of the two genera.<ref name=NordDunc84/> The specific epithet ''nutans'' refers to the nodding umbel of flowers.<ref name=HutcWond11/>
==Distribution and habitat==
''Scadoxus nutans'' is an Ethiopian endemic. It is found in the Kaffa and Illubabor regions in the southwest of the country. It occurs only in evergreen mountain forests, between {{convert|1000|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}} and {{convert|2500|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}} in elevation. Although occasionally found growing on the ground, it grows mainly as an epiphyte, with no apparent preference for the host species of tree.<ref name=HutcWond11/>
==Conservation==
''Scadoxus nutans'' is described as "vulnerable" as the mountain forest on which it depends is continually being lost through changes of land use. The Ethiopian Tree Fund Foundation (ETFF) is endeavouring to maintain and restore native forest by working with local farmers.<ref name=HutcWond11/>
==Cultivation==
''Scadoxus nutans'' can be cultivated where the necessary temperature can be maintained in the winter (at least {{convert|10|°C}}). In a pot it requires a very open, coarse organic growing medium. Jonathan Hutchinson, the UK National Plant Collection holder for ''Scadoxus'', recommends the addition of lumps of tree fern stem. Pests are those of ''Scadoxus'' generally.<ref name=Hutc14/>
==Toxicity==
The genus ''Scadoxus'' is known to have some strongly toxic species, containing poisonous alkaloids. These are lethal to animals, such as sheep and goats, that graze on the plants. Other species of ''Scadoxus'' have been used in parts of tropical Africa as components of arrow poisons and fishing poisons.<ref name=pa_Sp/>
==References==
{{Reflist|refs= <ref name=Hutc14>{{Citation |last=Hutchinson |first=J. |year=2014 |title=''Scadoxus'' of central and east Africa |journal=The Plantsman |series=New Series |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=36–42 }}</ref>
<ref name=HutcWond11>{{Citation |last1=Hutchinson |first1=J. |last2=Wondafrash |first2=M. |year=2011 |title=699 ''Scadoxus nutans'' |journal=Curtis's Botanical Magazine |volume=28 |pages=23–31 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8748.2011.01725.x |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>
<ref name=NordDunc84>{{Citation |last1=Nordal |first1=I. |last2=Duncan |first2=T. |year=1984 |title=A cladistic analysis of ''Haemanthus'' and ''Scadoxus'' |journal=Nordic Journal of Botany |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=145–153 |name-list-style=amp |doi=10.1111/j.1756-1051.1984.tb01482.x}}, particularly Table 2</ref>
<ref name=pa_Sp>{{Citation |title=''Scadoxus multiflorus'' (Martyn) Raf. subsp. ''katharinae'' (Bak.) Friis & Nordal |work=PlantZAfrica |publisher=South African National Biodiversity Institute |url=http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/scadoxkath.htm |access-date=2014-03-25 }}</ref>
<ref name=WCSP_287368>{{Citation |contribution=Scadoxus nutans|title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |contribution-url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=287368 |access-date=2014-03-24|title-link=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families }}</ref> }} {{Taxonbar|from=Q15503772}}
Category:Amaryllidoideae Category:Plants described in 1971 Category:Taxa named by Ib Friis Category:Taxa named by Inger Nordal