Bushman water root
Raphionacme velutina

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 20 cm tall. It forms a thick tuber 10-20 cm below the ground. The tuber can be 25 cm across. The plant secretes a white latex when damaged. The leaves are greyish-green and opposite. They are small and sword shaped. The flowers are green. They in clusters in the axils of leaves near the ends of branches. The flowers are star shaped. The fruit are narrowly oval and 5-9 cm long by 4-6 mm wide.

It is also put in the family Periplocaceae. Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. The dry season can be 6-11 months. In Southern Africa it grows between 800-1,600 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Middle East, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Yemen

How it is used for food

The tuber is used as a source of water. The top is cut off and the flesh mashed with a stick then the water squeezed out and drunk. The flesh can be eaten but it tends to dry out the mouth. It is eaten raw and used in cooked vegetable dishes.

It is an important source of water in the dry season.

Edible parts

Tuber, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ella, Etundu, Gurukaka, Qurs-bathilan

Synonyms

Raphionacme burkei N. E. Br.; Raphionacme dinteri Schltr. ex Schinz;