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Raphionacme burkei
These are charming plants, cool to those who like to collect them... odd to others.
 

Description: Small growing caudiciform perennial herb producing trailing, vining shoots.
Caudex (Tuber): Big mostly spherical ± flattened, almost always unbranched, smooth, above-ground. It might grow to 30 centimetres or more
Stems: The stems (vines) are numerous, deciduous, semi-erect, shrubby or partially climbing up to 45 centimetres (usually less), scarcely pubescent.
Leaves: In well-spaced pairs; petiole 2-3 mm long, blades linear-lanceolate to obovate, widest about middle, tapering equally to both ends, pointed, up to 5 cm long X 1-1,5 cm wide, usually smaller. Acute, basally tappering, margins ciliate, lower lamina face pubescent.
Flowers: Inflorescences lateral, almost from each node, sometimes also between upper leaf-axils, on short stout stalk, densely many-flowered, ± globular. The flowers are deciduous, pale green star-shaped with a purple centre, Ø 9 mm. Peduncle 1-2 mm long. Corolla lobes reflexed, narrowly triangular, about 5 mm long, densely hairy below, hairless above.
Blooming season: Summer.
Fruit: Solitary, thickly fusiform, glabrous.fruit-halves slender, up to 15 cm long x 5 mm diam, tapering to long point, often only one half developing.

This species is closely related and form a complex to R. galpinii, R. velutina and R. zeyheri. the contrastingly bicoloured corona is significant for R. burkei.
 

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Scientific name:  Raphionacme burkei
Author: Nicholas Edward Brown Fl. Cap. (Harvey) 4: I. 537. (1907).

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.

Synonyms:  

• Raphionacme velutina Schltr
• Raphionacme dinteri Schlechter 1910
• Raphiodacme pachyodon K. Schumann 1910
• Raphiodacme viridiflorum Turrill 1924

The Raphionacme has a swollen, water-storing stem (caudex) and produce green leaves and shoots during the periods that are favorable for growth, and live consuming the water and food stored in the caudex during long dry spells.
 

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.

Traditional uses: Raphionacme burkei, is known to the bushmen as 'Bi'. It is a useful plant that is particularly important as a source of water in the dry months. It  flourishes all year round, and is a major source of water where a water source is not available. It's tuber is juicy, fibrose and bitter.

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.