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The Raphionacme genus belongs to the Apocynaceae family and consists of 36 species. All but one Arabian specie are found exclusively in Africa. The 35 African species can be found from the southern fringes of the Sahara Desert to South Africa, growing in grassland and savanna. These caudiciform plants are mostly prostrate, erect or climbing herbaceous geophytes, typified by a usually spindle-shaped taproot tuber, also referred to as a caudex. They make excellent pot plants and do well in garden when planted in raised beds with well-drained soil. In cultivation the plants are usually grown in semi shade, with the caudex partially exposed.
Raphionacme hirsuta commonly known as False Gentian in English and Khadi or Khadiwortel in Afrikaans is a South African indigenous species found in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West Provinces. It has a great amount of synonyms including Apoxyanthera pubescens, Brachystelma hirsutum, Mafekingia parquetina, Raphionacme divaricata, Raphionacme divaricata var. glabra, Raphionacme hirsuta var. glabra, Raphionacme obovata, Raphionacme pubenscens and Raphionacme purpurea. This small perennial has branches that arise from a stout caudex. From late winter into early summer it bears clusters of flowers in different shades of pink to lilac. |