Adenia glauca

Adenia glauca Schinz

Blue Leaved Elephant’s Foot

Afr

Bobbebjaangif

isiZulu

IsiXhosa

Description

Family:

Passifloraceae

Order:

Malpighiales

Description

Deciduous climber or sometimes shrubby plant with a large, swollen green caudex (stem base) that can grow very large, up to 1 m tall and 2 m in diameter, giving a bonsai-like appearance.

The stems are thin and climbing, with glossy, dark green to greyish palmately divided leaves (5 segments).

Sweetly scented yellow flowers appear in late winter to summer.

Fruits are ovoid capsules turning orange when ripe, with fleshy seeds.

Plant Details

Height

Caudex: up to 1 m tall; Climbing stems can be very long.

Thorns

None

Soil

Prefers well-drained rocky or sandy soils in bushveld and rocky places.

Moderate to fast

Growth Rate

Caudex: up to 1 m tall; Climbing stems can be very long.

Size

Long lived

Lifespan

Flower Colour

Flowering Season

,

Horticultural Zones

Neutral to slightly acidic

pH

Prefers well-drained rocky or sandy soils in bushveld and rocky places.

Soil

Full sun to partial shade

Aspect

Low

Frost Tolerance

High

Drought Resistance

Companion Plants

Commonly grows with Acacia, Combretum, Terminalia species in bushveld.

Caterpillars

Butterfly caterpillars: Stephenia natalica (Black-based Acraea), Acraea barberi, Acraea acara, and Acraea anemosa. Moth caterpillars: None known

Associations

Descriptions

Sweet-scented, nectar-producing flowers attract bees, butterflies, and insectivorous birds. Glands (nectaries) attract ants that may aid in pollination and/or protection.

Fruits eaten by birds and mammals, that contribute to seed dispersal.

Seeds are toxic and have been reported to have caused poisoning symptoms in baboons.

Flowers and fruits

Small, sweetly scented yellow flowers (Aug – Jan).

Fruits are fleshy capsules with seeds enveloped in pulp.

Seed dispersal by birds and mammals.

Birds

Flowers provide nectar to various birds.

Fruits are eaten by frugivorous birds.

By Seeds:

Collect ripe fruits once turn orange.

Remove pulp, sow fresh in well-drained soil.

Germination rates are moderate to good.

By Cuttings:

Difficult; best propagated by seed.

Traditional Uses

Traditional Uses: Not widely used

Domestic animals: Not widely used. No known livestock toxicity.

Plant Details

Height

Description

Thorns

Description

Leaves

Description

Size

Growth Form

Size

Size

Size

Lifespan

Size

Flower Colour

Size

Flowering Season

Size

Horticultural Zones

Size

pH

Size

Soil

Size

Aspect

Size

Frost Tolerance

Size

Drought Resistance

Description

DESCRIPTION

Height

DESCRIPTION

Leaves

DESCRIPTION

Thorns

DESCRIPTION

BSS

Ecoscore

Host plant Nectar Grazing

Link to PlantzAfrica.co.za

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Distribution

Companion Plants

Description

Caterpillars

Associations

Leaves

Leaves

Flowers and fruits

Leaves

Birds

Leaves

Mammals

Leaves

By Seeds:

Leaves

By Cuttings:

Leaves

Traditional Uses

traditional uses