Kniphofia | |
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Fiery colored Kniphofia | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
clade: | Angiosperms |
clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Xanthorrhoeaceae |
Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
Genus: | Kniphofia Moench |
Species | |
See text. |
Kniphofia ( /nɪpˈhoʊfiə/),[1] also called Tritoma, Red hot poker, Torch lily or Poker plant, is a genus of plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae,[2] that includes 70 or more species native to Africa. Some species have been commercially used horticulturally and are commonly known for their bright, rocket-shaped flowers.
These plants produce spikes of upright, brightly-colored, red-to-orange flowers. This gives names such as "torch" and "red hot poker" to many of them. The flowers produce copious nectar while blooming and may attract sap-suckers such as hummingbirds and New World orioles.
The Kniphofia genus is named after Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, an 18th century German physician and botanist.