HARPAGOPHYTUM ZEYHERI

This member of the Pedaliaceae family was given this name by Joseph Decaisne in 1865. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Caprivi Strip, Mozambique, Namibia, northern South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, growing in a well drained soil like sand with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to eight centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to 28 centimetres in length. The flowers are pink to purple with a white centre. The "hooks" on the seed capsule are not as significant as Harpagophytum procumbens '. Latin: Harpagos is Greek for 'grappling hook', phytum Greek for 'plant'. The species: zeyheri is named in honour of Carl Zeyher, 1799 - 1858, a German naturalist. The fruit by Farai Chikomba.