Mountain kambroo
Pachypodium succulentum

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A spiny succulent plant. It forms a small shrub 60 cm tall. It has milky sap and a large tuber half buried in the ground. The leaves do not have stalks. They are alternate and occur in tufts They are narrowly sword shaped and green above and hairy underneath. The flowers are in clusters at the ends of branches. They are red or pink.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in arid areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The tuber is eaten fresh. It is also used to brew an alcoholic beer. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. It can be used to prepare a yeast for baking. A jam is made from the young tubers.

Edible parts

Tuber, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Barleria rigida Spreng. ex Schltdl. [Invalid]; Belonites succulenta (L.f.) E. Mey.; Echites succulentus Lf.; Echites tuberosus Haw. ex Steud.; Pachypodium griquense L. Bolus; Pachypodium jasminiflorum L. Bolus; Pachypodium tomentosum G. Don; Pachypodium tuberosum Lindl. [Illegitimate];