Raphionacme velutina
Schltr.
Apocynaceae
Brachystelma viridiflorum Turrill
Raphionacme burkei N.E.Br.
Raphionacme dinteri Schltr. ex Schinz
Common Name:
General Information
Raphionacme velutina is a herbaceous perennial plant producing one or more erect, branching stems 8 - 20cm tall from an underground tuber[
394- Title
- Flora Capensis
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.; Brown N.E.
- Website
- http://www.aluka.org/action/doBrowse?sa=1&st=662543&execbr=&sls=
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, and many of the botanical names have been changed since it was written, but contains a wealth of information about plants of southern Africa. It can be downloaded or viewed online.
].
This plant is highly valued by traditional peoples as a source of drinkable liquid in very dry and harsh environments - the root being dug up and squeezed to release its liquid load.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
394- Title
- Flora Capensis
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.; Brown N.E.
- Website
- http://www.aluka.org/action/doBrowse?sa=1&st=662543&execbr=&sls=
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, and many of the botanical names have been changed since it was written, but contains a wealth of information about plants of southern Africa. It can be downloaded or viewed online.
Range
Southern Africa - Namibia, Botswana, S. Africa.
Habitat
Found at elevations from 800 - 1,600 metres[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.12 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Found in the wild in dry, open places, uually in sandy soils[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
].
Edible Uses
Root - raw[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
]. Used as a source of drinkable liquid in the desert and sub-arid regions, the root is dug up and, when squeezed, releases a large amount of fluid[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
]. The more or less spherical tuber can be 20cm or more in diameter[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
All parts of the plant exude a white latex if injured[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
]. No uses are recorded for this latex.
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
