DIOSCOREA ELEPHANTIPES
Origen: zonas áridas del interior de Sudáfrica.
Se la conoce como "pata de elefante" o "pan de Hotentote".
Es una trepadora de hoja caduca que desarrolla un tallo tuberoso engrosado (de ahí el nombre de "pie de elefante") que crece muy lentamente hasta alcanzar un tamaño de hasta 3 metros de diámetro y uno de altura y que adopta con el tiempo la forma de placas endurecidas, como corteza de corcho o como el caparazón de una tortuga. Es rico en almidón (de ahí el nombre de "pan de hotentote").
Crece principalmente en invierno, con un periodo de reposo en verano. Aquí en Recregarden, en su primer año, el crecimiento empezó a finales de agosto y ahora (mediados de abril) está empezando a secarse.
En la naturaleza el cáudex suele estar cubierto por vegetación y solo los tallos trepadores se exponen al sol directo, por lo que el cáudex es sensible a exposiciones continuadas al sol fuerte.
Necesita un sustrato que drene muy bien y agua sólo en la temporada de crecimiento. Durante el periodo de reposo se debe conservar en lugar seco y sombrío.
Al parecer soporta heladas débiles y cortas si el sustrato está bien seco.
English version:
Origin: Arid inland areas of South Africa.
Common name: Elephant´s foot, Hottentot Bread
It is a deciduous climber. It takes its name "elephant's foot" from the appearance of its large, partially buried, tuberous stem, which grows very slowly but often reaches a considerable size, even more than 3 m in circumference with a height of nearly 1 m above ground. It is rich in starch, hence the name Hottentot breead and is covered on the outside with thick, hard, corky plates.
It´s primarily a winter grower, developing slender, climbing shoots in winter, losing its leaves in the summer when it goes through a dry dormancy period. Here in Recregarden, in its first year, new growth began at the very end of August and now (mid april) is drying up.
In nature, the caudex is usually in shade beneath thicket vegetation, and only the leafy tendrils reach up to the sunlight. Therefore the caudex is sensitive to prolonged exposure to heat and full sunlight, and a dappled-sun or semi-shaded position is preferable.
It requires extremely well-drained soil,only needs water in its growing period. In dormancy very little water is required.
It withstands light and short frosts if soil is completely dry.
It is a deciduous climber. It takes its name "elephant's foot" from the appearance of its large, partially buried, tuberous stem, which grows very slowly but often reaches a considerable size, even more than 3 m in circumference with a height of nearly 1 m above ground. It is rich in starch, hence the name Hottentot breead and is covered on the outside with thick, hard, corky plates.
It´s primarily a winter grower, developing slender, climbing shoots in winter, losing its leaves in the summer when it goes through a dry dormancy period. Here in Recregarden, in its first year, new growth began at the very end of August and now (mid april) is drying up.
In nature, the caudex is usually in shade beneath thicket vegetation, and only the leafy tendrils reach up to the sunlight. Therefore the caudex is sensitive to prolonged exposure to heat and full sunlight, and a dappled-sun or semi-shaded position is preferable.
It requires extremely well-drained soil,only needs water in its growing period. In dormancy very little water is required.
It withstands light and short frosts if soil is completely dry.
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