About Kedrostis africana (L.) Cogn.
Kedrostis africana, commonly known as baboon's cucumber, is a monoecious succulent that grows a large underground water-storing tuber called a caudex, which can reach up to 50 cm across. The stored water gives the plant moderate drought resistance. It produces long climbing stems that grow between 1 and 6 meters long, with lobed leaves measuring 6 to 10 cm in length. Male baboon's cucumber flowers form short racemes holding 1 to 12 blooms, while female flowers grow singly instead of clustered. Both male and female flowers are light cream to green-yellow in color, and blooming occurs in summer. After flowering, the plant produces orange fruit with a diameter between 8 and 15 mm. This species is native to southern Africa. Its distribution ranges from Namibia in the northwest, south to Worcester and the Gourits River valley, extends through the Karoo to Port Elizabeth in the southeast, and reaches north to KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga in the northeast. Kedrostis africana can be propagated from either seeds or cuttings. Because it produces both male and female flowers on a single individual, it is self-fertile, which allows it to readily develop its visible orange fruit. It is a very slow-growing species. For cultivation, it requires well-drained soil, and should be protected from drought, frost, and excessive sunlight. It needs plenty of water during the growing season; regular summer watering supports growth, but watering should stop in autumn and winter to avoid root rot. It must be kept in temperatures above 0 °C. Providing warmth and fertilizer during its active growing period will speed up its growth. As a climbing plant, its stems require support to grow. This species has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for use as an ornamental plant. In traditional medicine, Kedrostis africana is used to induce vomiting and urination, prevent fluid retention, and treat syphilis. A decoction made from crushed bulb is consumed to manage obesity.
