Common Name:

General Information

Hypoxis goetzei is a perennial plant with fleshy roots growing from a corm-like tuber; it produces a cluster of grass-like leaves, growing up to 80cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2009)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Tropical Africa - DR Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe

Habitat

Burnt grassland, Brachystegia woodland, forest margins; at elevations from 900 - 2,600 metres, but mainly between 1,200 - 2,000 metres[, ]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 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 dry to swampy ferralite, pale brown sandy loam, black loam, light loam, stony soil, sometimes very compact 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[].
Hypoxis goetzei is unique among other species of Hypoxis of the East Tropical Africa in developing inflorescences long before leaves. The flowers are finely sweet-scented[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, ]. Eaten as a vegetable[]. Juicy[]. A white flesh, becoming bluish when exposed to air[]. The subglobose rhizome is around 37 - 15cm long and 4 - 10cm in diameter[].

The plant is used in the treatment of headaches. One leaf from the plant is closed around the head until recovery[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the corm is used in the treatment of epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, abdominal pain and stomachache[, ].

Used as a treatment for headaches - one leaf from the plant is closed around the head until recovery[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

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

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