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Gerrardanthus macrorhizus

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Dioecious, I don't know what I got. Probably a male.


A really big one from Copenhagen Botanical Garden.
The vines are more than 10 meters. Its a female.


Male flower.


Female flower.

Author:  William Henry Harvey, 1867
Family:  CUCURBITACEAE
Origin:  Eswatini, S Mozambique, South Africa
Soil:  Rich
Water:  Maximum
Sun:  Medium
Thickness:  1,5 Meter
Height:  10-20 Meters
Flower:  Brown
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Big Foot
Synonyms:  Gerrardanthus mogarhiza Decne & William Henry Harvey.
Gerrardanthus portentosus,
Naudin ex T.Durand.
Gerrardanthus macrorrhizus*

This member of the Cucurbitaceae family comes from southern Mozambique, Eswatini and South Africa. First described by Benth & Hooker, and then re-named by William Henry Harvey in 1867. Well-drained and rather rich soil with some water an not too much sun. The caudex can grow up to 1,5 meter, and the vines to ten or even more than 20 meters. As seen on the photos, both male and female flower are brown.

*) A name spelled in many ways: Gerrardanthus macrorhizus, macrorhiza, macrorrhizus, macrorrhiza. Seen other spellings as well. First description should be in: Bentham & Hooker, Gen. Pl. 1: 840, 1867, and that is with one "r". It is "bad Latin", but never the less: The correct name.

The genera name for William Tyrer Gerrard, 1831-1866, a British naturalist, botanical collector and traveller in South Africa and Greek; anthos; 'flower'. The species name means 'big root'.

It seems like some of them just root underneath. Some sort of fungus you just can't avoid. Those who have it, will survive, but the caudex will loose it originally look.
It might be avoided by letting the caudex rest on rough gravel.


The fruits are rather dry and air filled. While they dry up, they opened in the lover end,
and realises their six winged seeds, which will be spread by the wind.


Fruit.