Scientific name: Raphionacme
procumbens Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter 1895
Origin: Southern Africa
Etymology: The name Raphionacme
is derived from the Greek words 'rhaphys', beet-root, and
'akme', sharpness,
presumably describing the taste of the tuberous roots.
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Description: Small
growing caudiciform perennial herb producing trailing shoots.
Caudex (Tuber): Big mostly spherical ± flattened, turnip shaped, almost
always unbranched, smooth, above-ground.
Stems: The stems (vines) are deciduous, semi-erect, shrubby or partially
climbing up to 75 centimetres (usually less), generally downy
throughout.
Leaves: In well-spaced pairs; stalks ± 5 mm long, blades more or less
lance-shaped, widest about middle, tapering equally to both ends,
pointed, up to 10 cm long X 3 cm wide, usually smaller.
Flowers: Inflorescences terminal, sometimes also between upper
leaf-axils, on short stout stalk, densely many-flowered. The flowers are
deciduous, pale green star-shaped with a purple centre. Corolla lobes,
about 5 mm long, , densely hairy below, hairless above.
Blooming season: Summer.
Fruit: Fruit-halves slender, up to 15 cm long x 5 mm diam, tapering to
long point, often only one half developing.
Cultivation:
In cultivation the plants are usually grown in semi shade, with the
tubers wholly or (preferably) partially exposed to prevent scorching and
rotting of the roots.
This plant can take a good deal of water during active growth and should be
watered only when not dormant. Keep dryish in winter. It should
be overwintered in the greenhouse at temperatures over 12°C (avoid
letting temperatures drop lower than 5° C).
Use a very draining but rich
soil. An error in cultivation may produce unsightly
holes in the tuber.
Reproduction: Can be reproduced both by cuttings and seeds.
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