ADENIA PECHUELII

This member of the Passifloraceae family was given this name by Hermann August Theodor Harms in 1887. It is found widely spread around Namibia, growing on rocks, in grit or other well drained soil with little water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow from 50 to 100 centimetres in diameter, and the plant can reach a height of 100 to 150 centimetres. The flowers are red. Some plants are thought to be more than 1000 years old.

The name Adenia is derived from aden, meaning gland, and pertains to the glands found on leaves of most of the species.

The species name after Prof. Dr. Eduard Pechuel Loesche, 1840-1913, a German geographer. The fruit by Herta Kolberg, Researchgate.net. A wild with leaves by Alex Dreyer, Africanplants.senckenberg.de.