Elephants foot

Elephants-foot (Adenia pechuelii): A squat plant with a large, swollen, tuber-looking stem, hence the common name and belongs to the Granadilla family. It grows to around 1m high and is endemic to the Namib Desert on rocky outcrops as well as Epupa Falls. Larger species grow on the Brandberg. This plant has many short, thick branches which are pale to blue-green in colour. The leaves are the same colour as the branches and the small, cup-shaped flowers bloom from February to June.

Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Red fruits are in the shape of a round, 3-lobed capsule. Namibian Acraeas and Fiery Acraeas use this plant to feed.