Dipcadi crispum

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A herb with a bulb. It grows 30 cm high. It keeps growing from year to year. The bulb is oval and has yellowish scales. There are about 4 leaves in a ring. They are about 60-200 mm long by 4-16 mm wide. The flowers are brown to orange. They are about 2 cm long. They have a sweet smell. The fruits are a large capsule. It is round and brown and 2 cm long. The seeds are 9 mm across.

They have also been put in the families Hyacinthaceae and Liliaceae.

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. It grows in well drained stony and sandy soils. It grows between 70-300 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The bulb or corm is eaten raw as a vegetable. They are also roasted.

Edible parts

Bulb, corm, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Glomglomkwasa, Somaes

Synonyms

Dipcadi tortile R. A. Dyer;