Fockea edulis (Fockea)

Fockea edulis is a caudiciform vine, with a tuber that may reach up to 12" in diameter in cultivation. Fockea edulis needs full sun to light shade. The tuber should always be shaded. Water regularly in summer and water only enough to keep the tuber from shriveling in winter. It is deciduous and all foliage will be lost in the winter dormancy period. Since it is a vine, some type of support is needed.In the wild, the caudex is partially or totally buried. It tends to grow faster when buried. Fockea edulis is best propagated from seed. The tuber is edible after the alkaloids in the latex have been inactivated by cooking. Some parts of the plants are also poisonous.