Common Name:

General Information

Hypoxis obtusa is an erect to straggling, herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of 5 - 15, grass-like leaves from a corm-like fuber; it can grow around 16 - 50cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is often harvested on a large scale for medicinal use, being marketed under the name 'African Potato', a name more accurately applied to the species Hypoxis hemerocallidea[]. A very floriferous species, with potential for use as an ornamental[].
Hypoxis obtusa has a disjointed distribution, and there is regular gathering for herbarium collections. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical and southern Africa - DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, south through Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe to S. Africa

Habitat

Scattered tree grassland; swamp edge; open dry grasslands; dambo margins; mixed deciduous woodlands; sandy soil; short-thicket-grown sandy hills, with clayey subsoil; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,750 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, 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[].
Hypoxis species greatly resent root disturbance, plants should be placed in their permanent positions as soon as possible and left ndisturbed for as long as possible[].
The plant commences flowering before the leaves are produced[].
This species occasionally hybidizes in the wild with Hypoxis rigidula[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The raw corm is crushed, boiled and given to patients[]. It is used to in the management of diabetes, ulcers, cancer, abdominal pain, HIV/AIDS and, when mixed with ginger, is used as an immune booster[, ]. The chewed roots are used to manage cough[].
The corm is boiled and taken as decoction. This is given as an energizer to weakly children and it is assumed to work as a laxative. It is used by mothers to prevent retarded growth in children[].
An infusion of the corm is taken orally as a treatment for abdominal pain and stomach aches[]..

The roots are often harvested from the wild in large quantities and marketed under the name 'African Potato', a name more accurately applied to the traditional medicinal species Hypoxis hemerocallidea, which is used in the treatment of a range of conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, urinary tract diseases, reproductive system diseases, prostate hypertrophy, benign prostate hyperplasia, tuberculosis, syphilis and diabetes[, ].
Research has shown that the root of this species has a similar, though not identical, phytochemical profile to Hypoxis hemerocallidea and is non-toxic. However, it is not known if the medicinal benefits are the same[].

Other Uses

The plant (the tuber?) is used in making a floor polish for huts in KwaZulu-Natal[].

Propagation

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

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