We are following the treatment of J. Wiland-Szymańska in 'The Genus Hypoxis (Hypoxidaceae) in Central Africa'[], which treats this species as comprising five varieties. One of these varieties (Hypoxis fischeri var. colliculata (Wiland) Wiland & Nordal) is recorded as having an edible tuber and is dealt with in a separate record[].

Common Name:

General Information

Hypoxis fischeri is a robust, perennial plant producing a cluster of grass-like leaves from a corm-like tuber; it can grow up to 75cm tall[].
The plant is harvested fom the wild for local use as a food and a medicine
This species as a whole is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2009), but some varieties have a different status. Var fischeri is classed as 'Near Threatened', var katangensis is classified as 'Critically Endangered', and may be extinct[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Tropical Africa - Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique

Habitat

Wooded grassland, wet grassland, in short grass, among rocks on fireswept eroded hillside, upland pasture; at elevations from 1,067 - 2,743 metres, but mainly between 1,500 - 2,000 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Hypoxis species are generally not very cold tolerant plants and most species are badly damaged or killed by even light frosts. They will usually grow well in a Mediterranean type of climate with little or no frost[].
Species in this genus generally require a light, freely draining soil and a position in full sun or light shade[]. This species is found in the wild on a range of soils, including black clay, red soil, gritty or sandy, black loamy soil and sandy-loamy soils[].
Hypoxis species greatly resent root disturbance, plants should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible and left undisturbed for as long as possible[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, ]. (refers to the var. colliculata). The subglobose to cylindrical tuber is 3 - 9cm long and 3 - 6cm wide[].

Medicinal

The sap is used as a remedy for various skin diseases[].

A drink made from the boiled tubers is used to treat swelling of the testes[, ]. (refers to the vars hockii and zernyi)

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[].
Division.

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