Cyphostemma juttae

Cyphostemma juttae, the Namibian grape or tree grape, is not South African. It is a thickset succulent shrub or small tree endemic to a desert habitat in the north of Namibia. The Afrikaans name is droog-my-keel (dry-my-throat), possibly referring to the liquid stored in the large caudex.

The bark on the older stems is pale green and smooth. It peels in paper-thin flakes, that serve in protecting the plant against the sun. The plant occasionally reaches heights around 4 m, usually no taller than 2 m. The squat, fleshy trunk functions as a water reservoir, helping the plant through the long, intense and frequent dry periods of its homeland (Coates Palgrave, 2002).