Dioscorea hemicrypta, olifantvoet

Next to the well-known, yellowish Tylecodon paniculata plant in picture is the less often seen dark shape of an old Dioscorea hemicrypta plant growing near Oudtshoorn.

On top of the bulky caudex grows a large bushy crown comprising a tangle of old dry, as well as young leafy stems; a little hard to make out the details against the background vegetation in the photo.

Only two of the about 600 Dioscorea species classified into five genera grow naturally in the Little Karoo. The other one, D. elephantipes develops a larger basal stem protruding more above-ground and producing cordate (heart-shaped) leaves (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984).