Water root, Narrow-leafed kambro
Fockea angustifolia

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A climber. It has a few fine hairs. It has a taproot and keeps growing from year to year. The stems and tubers have a milky sap. The leaves are oblong or strap shaped and 7 cm long by 5 mm wide. The flowers are almost without stalks. They occur in compact clusters. They are green and white. The flowers are about 1 cm long. The flower stalks are hairy. The fruit are 8 cm long by less than 1 cm wide. The seeds are 10 mm long by 3 mm wide. The tubers are 50 cm long and 30 cm wide. They have a brown skin and are somewhat spongy.

There are 6 Fockea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in hot arid places. They need a sunny warm position. In Swaziland it grows in the lowveld only. It grows in the Kalahari. It grows in regions with a dry period of 6-11 months. It is best in shade. In southern Africa it grows between 800-1,200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The swollen roots are eaten raw when young. Older ones are roasted. They are also used for jams and preserves. The tubers are cut into small squares and put in water to which a little lime has been added and the extract is used to prepare a chunky jam.

The tubers is the most important source of water for bushmen in Namibia.

Edible parts

Tuber, root, stems

How it is grown

The top of the tuber is usually left in the ground to re-grow.

The tuber can be harvested again after 2-3 years.

Its other names

Local names

Dicava, Ecava, Enongo, Kambro, Kghoa, Khoa, Leruswa, Licava

Synonyms

Cynanchum omissum Bullock; Fockea angustifolia var. volkii G. Court; Fockea dammarana Schltr.; Fockea lugardii N. E. Br.; Fockea mildbraedii Schlechter; Fockea monroi S. Moore; Fockea sessiliflora Schltr.; Fockea tugelensis N. E. Br.;