Fockea edulis
| Light | Bright light to a little direct sun; the vine enjoys strong light, the caudex is usually kept exposed |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly while in leaf and growing; keep dry through winter dormancy |
| Soil | Free-draining gritty mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep frost-free; protect below about 10 °C |
| Propagation | Seed; sometimes cuttings (which usually will not form a true caudex) |
| Toxicity | The swollen root is traditionally eaten (the source of the name "Hottentot bread"), but treat the plant as not for casual consumption; the milky latex is reported to be poisonous |
Fockea edulis is a caudiciform succulent from South Africa that stores water in a large, potato-like swollen root, or caudex, from which a slender twining vine of paired green leaves climbs each growing season. Prized by caudex and pachycaul collectors for the sculptural, gnarled shape of its exposed rootstock, it is also known as Hottentot Bread and Kambroo.
Description
The heart of Fockea edulis is its caudex — a fleshy, tuberous root that swells over the years into a rounded, often lumpy grey-brown mass. In habitat this sits buried in the ground, but growers almost always lift it proud of the soil to show off its form, where it can eventually reach the size of a football or larger in old specimens. The surface is firm and corky, sometimes warty, and no two are quite alike.
From the crown the plant sends up one or more thin, twining stems that scramble over anything nearby. These carry small, opposite, somewhat wavy-edged green leaves and, in season, clusters of modest star-shaped greenish flowers. Like others in the Apocynaceae, the plant contains a milky latex. The vine dies back or is often cut back when the plant goes dormant, leaving the caudex as the star of the show.
Distribution and habitat
Fockea edulis is native to eastern South Africa, ranging from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, where it grows in dry scrub, savanna and rocky ground. The caudex sits underground, insulated from heat and drought, while the annual vine takes advantage of the warmer, moister growing season to grow, flower and photosynthesise before retreating again. This buried, water-storing strategy lets the plant ride out long dry periods — the same toughness that makes it forgiving in cultivation.
Cultivation
This is one of the more beginner-friendly caudiciforms, tolerant and long-lived. Grow it in a free-draining, gritty mix in a pot deep enough for the root, in bright light with some direct sun to keep the vine compact. During the warm growing season water regularly and let the plant climb a small trellis or stake; feed lightly and it will reward you with vigorous growth.
As the season ends and leaves yellow, taper off water and keep the plant dry and frost-free through its winter rest — wet, cold roots are the main danger. Many growers raise the caudex a little higher at each repotting to develop that showpiece exposed rootstock, though in the ground it grows fastest kept buried. See Watering for seasonal technique.
Propagation
Seed is the reliable route to a plant with a true, symmetrical caudex. Fockea is dioecious — plants are male or female — so setting viable seed requires both sexes flowering together, which is why home-saved seed is uncommon. Sow fresh on a warm, gritty surface and keep lightly moist until germination; see Propagation - seed.
Cuttings of the vine can be rooted, but they typically grow on as ordinary stems and rarely develop the fat, characterful caudex that collectors want, so seed remains the preferred method. See Propagation - cuttings for general technique.
Common problems
- Caudex rot — the usual cause of loss, from watering during dormancy or a slow-draining mix; the root softens and discolours.
- Weak, floppy growth — too little light leaves the vine thin and stretched; give it strong light and something to climb.
- Pests — mealybugs can hide in leaf axils and around the crown; watch also for spider mites on the foliage in hot, dry air. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Fockea — the genus overview
- Caudex · Repotting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation - seed