Adenia volkensii

Description:

Family: Passifloraceae

This plant grows to be a small shrub in habitat with modeled red and green stems and deciduous palmate leaves. The plant has large tuberous roots that form a gnarly caudex, which can be raised above the ground for display. Dioecious with separate male and female plants

Habitat:
Widespread in East Africa, typically occurring in forested scrub land where it grows under the shade of larger plants.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The root caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice). It is best to keep the caudex buried until it reaches a satisfactory size. Once exposed the growth rate of the caudex is slowed dramatically, if not halted completely.