Hypoxis schimperi
Baker
Hypoxidaceae
Hypoxis macrocarpa E.Holt & Staubo
Common Name:
General Information
Hypoxis schimperi is a slender, herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of grass-like leaves from a corm-like tuber; it can grow up to 45cm tall[
1923- Title
- The genus Hypoxis L. (Hypoxidaceae) in the East Tropical Africa: variability, distribution and conservation status
- Publication
- Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 14: 1-129, 2009
- Author
- Wiland-Szymańska J.
- Website
- http://10.2478/v10119-009-0011-5
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
Hypoxis schimperi is widely distributed in Africa, but its range is island-like. This species never occurs in large quantities, and has not been collected by botanists since 1986. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2009)[
1923- Title
- The genus Hypoxis L. (Hypoxidaceae) in the East Tropical Africa: variability, distribution and conservation status
- Publication
- Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 14: 1-129, 2009
- Author
- Wiland-Szymańska J.
- Website
- http://10.2478/v10119-009-0011-5
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
,
1923- Title
- The genus Hypoxis L. (Hypoxidaceae) in the East Tropical Africa: variability, distribution and conservation status
- Publication
- Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 14: 1-129, 2009
- Author
- Wiland-Szymańska J.
- Website
- http://10.2478/v10119-009-0011-5
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
Eastern and tropical southern Africa - Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe
Habitat
Swampy grassland, wet dambo, stream banks, Philippia thickets on basement complex, pasture, growing on black or sandy soils; at elevations from 990 - 3,170 metres but mainly from 1,500 - 2,000 metres[
1923- Title
- The genus Hypoxis L. (Hypoxidaceae) in the East Tropical Africa: variability, distribution and conservation status
- Publication
- Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 14: 1-129, 2009
- Author
- Wiland-Szymańska J.
- Website
- http://10.2478/v10119-009-0011-5
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened |
| 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[
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.
].
Species in this genus generally require a light, freely draining soil and a position in full sun or light shade[
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.
].
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[
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.
].
Plants usually flower throughot the year[
1923- Title
- The genus Hypoxis L. (Hypoxidaceae) in the East Tropical Africa: variability, distribution and conservation status
- Publication
- Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 14: 1-129, 2009
- Author
- Wiland-Szymańska J.
- Website
- http://10.2478/v10119-009-0011-5
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The dried, powdered corm is mixed with hot water or tea and drunk as a treatment for coughs, convulsions in children and as an aphrodisiac in males[
1925- Title
- Diversity and Conservation Through Cultivation of Hypoxis in Africa - A Case Study of Hypoxis hemerocallidea
- Publication
- Diversity 2020, 12, 122;
- Author
- Mofokeng M.M. et al
- Website
- http://10.3390/d12040122
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2020
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
,
1930- Title
- Diversity of Hypoxis species used in ethnomedicine in Tanzania
- Publication
- South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 336-341
- Author
- Pereus D. et al
- Website
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2018.03.004
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2019
- ISBN
- 0254-6299
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[
295- Title
- PlantZAfrica.com
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.plantzafrica.com
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.
].
Division.
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
