Dioscorea elephantipes ,tortoise plant:

 

Dioscorea elephantipes, also called tortoise plant, elephant foot or elephant potato, is a semi-desert perennial plant native to South Africa belonging to the Dioscoreaceae family.

Discription:

It is characterized by a thick, rounded, swollen tuber called a caudex, with a tough, thick bark divided into polygonal plates reminiscent of a turtle’s shell or an elephant’s foot, hence its common names.

This caudex can reach up to 1 meter in diameter and weigh several hundred kilograms in its natural habitat, while the twining stems that emerge from it can measure up to 3 meters long.

The leaves are cordate (heart-shaped), light green, borne on long, thin petioles.

The plant is dioecious, with small greenish-yellow flowers (about 4 mm) appearing in summer or winter depending on the climate.

The caudex is rich in starch, making its tubers edible, known as “Hottentot Bread.”

 

Culture and maintenance:

Dioscorea elephantipes is a slow-growing plant that thrives best in pots in deep, well-drained, medium-rich soil, often a mixture of potting soil and sand.

It requires a bright location and tolerates heat and full sun well, but does not tolerate temperatures below 5-10°C, making it ideal for indoor or conservatory cultivation in temperate climates.

Watering is done approximately once a week during the growing season, then should be stopped during the dormant period when the plant loses its leaves and stops growing, mimicking its natural dry season.

Propagation is primarily by sowing seeds in a constant heat environment.

 

Particularites:

The plant alternates between phases of rapid stem and leaf growth and dormant phases where only the caudex remains, with no apparent logic, requiring careful adjustment of watering.

It is highly drought-resistant, making it suitable for semi-desert environments and easy to maintain in the event of prolonged water shortages.In summary, Dioscorea elephantipes is a rare and fascinating plant, prized for its unique sculptural appearance thanks to its tortoise-shell-shaped caudex, its slow growth, its heart-shaped leaves, and its relative hardiness, making it suitable for indoor potted cultivation in temperate regions.