Does anyone else have a Turtleback Plant?

Now, although I pride myself on growing Texas natives in my back and front yard rock gardens, things are a tad bit different when it comes to what is inhabiting my terra cotta pots...lol... Not only do I have a Patchouly plant and a plump "Buddha Belly plant", but I am also a proud owner of a Turtleback plant or Dioscorea elephantipes
I saw a big specimen at a nursery about 20 years ago..and it was love at first sight..lol.
I'm pretty darn proud of myself for starting this little guy from seed. And tho I love these plants, I can't seem to find any neighbors who are growing the same thing, aside from their petunnias and marigold...lol. So I ask ya'll...oh fond fellow DG'ers...if any one else has one to brag about?...Would love to see other photos and get a bit more info. Mine seems to be very content...tho it almost got up and walked out of its pot when I accidently fed it with plant food..lol

I don't have one of those, but it sure is an intersting, that was quite an accomplishment.

They really are quite interesting..frostweed...but again..its hard to find anyone who knows alot about them. Even nurserymen(women) sort of scratch their heads and go "hmmm..." lol

Is that woody area part of the root? and how long did it take to form the woody part.
It looks like it probably stores water and food in that area, is that right?

What a unique plant, I have never seen one of those - where do they grow in the wild at? ( I love to know now that I have learned somethings about natives and such). Just stunning, so from seed .. soo what do the flowers look like?

The woody part or "turtleback" is the hard caudex....in which the heart shaped leaves on vines grow out of the top. It is a South African plant in origin also known as "Hottentot Bread," for the tribe that used it as a food source. I have yet to see any blooms...but again...its only about 3 years old. I've seen some HUGE ones, but no blooms.

I definitely know alot about its origins...but as far as its care, I still don't know alot about them...

do keep us up todate - what a great plant unique plant, What type of soil etc do you have it in?

I definitely will, MitchF
I started about 6 seeds and this little guy was the only one that survived. They can be a difficult plant to get stable enough to grow...but well worth the trouble for someone wanting something a little more interesting. I transplanted it into this particular pot about a year ago...and man...it got mad and lost all of its leaves...lol. But it seems to be happy in plain ole Miracle Gro potting soil. I never feed it because it got REAL mad at me when I accidently fed it...lol It has just put out an impressive new vine that is alot thicker then the others...so it seems pretty darn content :)

I've been interested in plants with swollen bases for years, but I've never owned one of these. I've been tempted to buy one ever since I saw them at Top Tropicals last year. You may want to contact them and ask for more information. I've been able to glean some information about its culture. It is a dioecious. Both male and female flowers are yellow. The caudex will grow faster if it is buried for the first few years. The soil should be moist during its growing period. Ordinarily, it goes dormant during the summer when it should receive less water. Because dormancy doesn't always occur at that time, watering frequency is best determined by the appearance of new growth. Excellent drainage is a must. Use only dilute fertilizer. Using fertilizer at full strength could damage the plant and shorten its life span. The temperature needs to stay above 60º - 65ºF.

http://www.toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/links/contact.htm
http://www.toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/articles/cacti/dioscorea.htm

Pretty interesting indeed . . . what's it taste like :D

lol GD..I'n not about to find out...Apparently they have to boil it all down to mush because it has a little poison in the caudex.

bettydee....thanks so much for that bit of info..! That did help alot. My plant does indeed decide to go dormant when IT wants to...not according to any season or temp change..and its darn near worried me to death when it has lost all of its leaves and sat there like a literal dead turtle. I'd come outside and stare at it...thinking that MAY help, lol And then a little vine starts to peek out of the top and give me a big ole smile, lol..

I'll have to get a photo of the "buddha belly." Now THATS another weird plant...lol

This message was edited Jul 2, 2006 8:45 AM

Does that blank space mean that you didn't have a comment...? lol :D

lol . . . ummmm . . . well no but it likely means that my 'smartie pants' comment was not rejected by the system :)) lmbo

it was something along the lines of . . .
I'm waiting with baited breath to see the photos of this "dubbha delly" plant .... errrr ummm I mean ... "buddha belly" yeah that's it :D

lolol...well, my duddha delly plant is something that I can honestly own up to a few braggin' rights... :D I'll definitely send a photo along the way...its worth taking a gander... :)

lol @ the blank window...I thought you were tryin' some mental telethapy...lol... ("hmm...I know its blank...but what is he tryin' to tell me???) ;D

:D . o O (hmmmm . . . wonder if I should do that again?)

lol...give it a whirl...ya never know.. ;)