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Testudinaria Elephantipes is a choice Caudiciform Succulent that
produces seasonal twining vine from the top of the caudex. The vines
reaches 2 m and grows rapidly during the growing season ( from Autumn to
Spring) but usually dies back in the summer, leaving the caudex to
survive the hot, dry season.
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Description: Deciduous caudiciform vine, which produces a
seasonal clinging growth.
Caudex: The large and partially exposed tuberous stem is
woody-looking but succulent within, and covered on the outside with
thick greyish-brown bark that becomes deeply cracked into polygonal,
superbly sculptured, prominent, polygonal corky plates with age, it can
reach 3 (or more) m in diameter with a height of nearly 1 m above ground
(but usually doesn’t exceed 1m in width) The tubercle-covered tuber
resembles an elephant's foot or a tortoise shell.
Stems: Testudinaria produces a seasonal (annual to semiperennial) twining
vine from the top of the caudex. The vines reaches 2 m and grow rapidly
during the growing season (from Autumn to Spring) but usually die back
in the summer, leaving the caudex to survive the hot, dry season.
Leaves: Very glossy, heart shaped.
Flowers: Inconspicuous, small (up to 4 mm wide) greenish-yellow in
clusters. The Dioscorea elephantipes is dioecious (male and female
flowers are produced on different plants)
Blooming season: Late summer
Note: This species has a large tuberous textured stem (caudex)
that will slowly grow to resemble a tortoise (Hence the name
Testudinaria) It often reaches a considerable size, sometimes more than
3 m in circumference. The tuber inner flesh is rich in starch and - even
though it would be an expensive experiment - it is edible. (Hence the
name Hottentot bread)
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A young caudex |
New sprout in late summer |
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Family: Dioscoreaceae
Scientific name: Testudinaria
elephantipes (L'Her.) Lindl.
Origin: Southern Africa (including the Cape of Good Hope)
Habitat: Semiarid areas.
Conservation status: Not threatened. This species was once nearly eradicated in the wild during the search for
commercially valuable sources of steroidal saponins like diosgenin; used
to synthesize cortisone and birth control pills. Fortunately, removal of
plants from their habitat proved difficult, and as cheaper and more
viable sources of these steroids became available, collection efforts
ceased.
Common Names include: Hottentot's Bread, Tortoise Back
Plant, tortoise plant, Turtleback.
Etymology: It is called "Testudinaria"
after "Testudo" a genus of tortoise.
Synonyms:
- Dioscorea elephantipes (L'Her.)
Engl.
- Tamus elephantipes L'Her.
- Dioscorea elephantopus
Testudinaria elephantipes (a young caudex)
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Cultivation: This plant responds well to cultivation and makes an
easy and wonderfully unusual houseplant.
It is easy to grow if a winter temperature of 5° C can be maintained.
Prefers light shade, but keep the caudex in the shade. It needs
moderate to regular water. Slow down or withheld water when the tuber
is dormant in summer (after shedding its leaves). It will start growing
again in Autumn. Watering can recommence once the plant has shown signs
of producing a fresh shoot. Sometimes it ignores its proper growing
seasons (from autumn to spring ) and keeps its vines growing long into
its rest period, or sends up new vines much earlier than expected. In
that case, paying attention to the plant and not the calendar is a good
idea. Plants even five to ten years old are extremely nice.
Propagation: Seeds, difficult from cuttings. Sow seeds 5mm deep
and keep them warm. Sprouts best in indirect light. The seedlings'
caudex forms below ground and will grow much faster if left underground
for a couple of years.
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Cultivation
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