Raphionacme hirsuta
(E.Mey.) R.A.Dyer
Apocynaceae
Apoxyanthera pubescens Hochst.
Brachystelma hirsutum E.Mey.
Mafekingia parquetina Baill.
Raphionacme divaricata Harv.
Raphionacme obovata Turcz.
Raphionacme pubescens (Hochst.) Hochst.
Raphionacme purpurea Harv.
Common Name:
Plant growing in native habitat in Swartkop area, western Johannesburg, South Africa
Photograph by: Androstachys
General Information
Raphionacme hirsuta is a perennial plant with a large, tuberous rootstock that can be 40cm in diameter, producing several stems from 2 - 40cm tall[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
,
394- Title
- Flora Capensis
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.; Brown N.E.
- Website
- http://www.aluka.org/action/doBrowse?sa=1&st=662543&execbr=&sls=
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, and many of the botanical names have been changed since it was written, but contains a wealth of information about plants of southern Africa. It can be downloaded or viewed online.
].
The root is sometimes harvested from the wild and used to make an intoxicating drink.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
394- Title
- Flora Capensis
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.; Brown N.E.
- Website
- http://www.aluka.org/action/doBrowse?sa=1&st=662543&execbr=&sls=
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, and many of the botanical names have been changed since it was written, but contains a wealth of information about plants of southern Africa. It can be downloaded or viewed online.
Range
Southern Africa - Botswana, S. Africa.
Habitat
Grassland, in freely draining soils, at elevations up to 1,500 metres[
394- Title
- Flora Capensis
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.; Brown N.E.
- Website
- http://www.aluka.org/action/doBrowse?sa=1&st=662543&execbr=&sls=
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, and many of the botanical names have been changed since it was written, but contains a wealth of information about plants of southern Africa. It can be downloaded or viewed online.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.40 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the subtropics, just entering into the tropics in southern Africa.
Requires a very free-draining soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season and a distinct dry season when it is dormant.
Edible Uses
The plant has a large underground tuber which is mixed with sugar and brewed into an intoxicating beer[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. Yeast or moulds that grow on the roots apparently contribute to the fermentation process[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
