Cyanella orchidiformis, the raaptol

Cyanella orchidiformis or the raaptol (Afrikaans) is one of 5 species of Cyanella occurring in Namaqualand.

The corms are nutritious, commonly eaten as a staple food by the Nama, the early inhabitants of the region. Cyanella corms were harvested in the rainy (winter) season and eaten raw, boiled in milk or roasted. C. hyacinthoides was the most important of the Cyanella corms for the people to gather (Manning, 2007; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; Eliovson, 1990; iNaturalist).