Common Name:

General Information

Fockea multiflora is a climbing plant producing annual stems from 3 - 15 metres tall from a perennial rootstock. The stems scramble over the ground or twine around other plants for support.
The plant is harvested from the wild for its latex, which is used as an adulterant of rubber. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

The latex in the plant is toxic[].

Botanical References

Range

Southern and eastern tropical Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, southern Angola, northern Namibia, northern Botswana, Mozambique.

Habitat

Rocky areas on low hills or among rocks around the base of hills in open, Mopane or Brachystegia woodland or river banks at elevations from 500 - 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	10.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of drier areas in the tropics, where it is found at elevations from 500 - 1,200 metres. Plants cannot tolerate frosts[].
Succeeds in full sun or light shade, though its caudex should be sheltered from the sun[]. Requires ample moisture in the growing season[].
The plant tends to grow faster if the swollen base of the stem (the caudex) is buried just under the soil surface[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The sweetly scented flowers are sometimes used as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

An extract of the aerial parts of the plant in brandy is rubbed on the back to treat backache[].

Other Uses

A latex obtained from the plant is used to adulterate rubber[].

Propagation

Seed -

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