Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Knolklimop, Climbing green lily, Climbing onion, Climbing potato, gifisila, Umagaqana, iguleni, ugibisisila

Family: Asparagaceae subfam. Scilloideae

Distribution: Southern Africa, Eastern Cape to Limpopo Province

Habitat: Bush margins and rocky outcrops

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

National red list: Vulnerable

Life form: Geophyte (bulb, corm or tuber - seasonally dormant)

Comments: This is a geophyte with an interesting adaptation: in the absence of aerial leaves, it uses its inflorescence for photosynthesis during the flowering phase. It occurs in the eastern part of South Africa and as far north as Uganda and Kenya, where it grows on bush margins and rock outcrops. This is a very popular plant in the South African medicinal trade and as a result it has become quite rare in this country. It is used to treat skin diseases, bladder problems, sore eyes and reproductive problems. Unfortunately, because of unsustainable harvesting for medicinal purposes, this plant is now considered a vulnerable species.