Water root
Raphionacme lanceolata
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
A herb or small shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It can grow 1 m high. It has a milky latex. It has flattened tubers that are irregular in shape and 35 cm across and 8 cm thick. The leaves are narrowly oval and 4 cm long by 2 cm wide. They have short hairs on the upper surface. The flowers are 10 mm across and light blue. The flowers are in groups or 3-7 in the axils of leaves.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid places. It grows in areas with a marked dry season. It can grow in deserts and places with a dry season of 6-11 months. It grows in well-drained sandy or stony soils. In southern Africa it grows between 900-1,200 m above sea level. In Zimbabwe it grows between 500-1,,500 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The moisture of the root tubers is sucked when water is short. A section of the tuber can be scraped and the water squeezed out. It is not very agreeable but important when water is not available. The fruit is eaten raw.
Edible parts
Fruit, roots, tubers
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Epepela, Ndandari, Tu-ca-beye, Zurukaka