Fockea edulis (Thunb.) K.Schum.

Perennial, geophytic herb or herbaceous climber. Stems: non-climbing ones 50-300 mm long, up to 2 m when twining; produced from large underground or partially exposed tuber, up to 1 m wide. Leaves in widely separated pairs or clustered on short contracted stems, lanceolate, oblanceolate, oblong, elliptic, 15-45 x 6-21 mm, apex obtuse or acute to apiculate, margins flat or wavy, not revolute, essentially glabrous; petioles 2-8 mm long. Inflorescence a cyme; peduncle short, (1-)2-3 mm long. Flowers (1)2-8; pedicels ± 2 mm long. Corolla: tube 2-3(-5) mm long; lobes linear 6-12 x 1.5-2.0 mm, spreading-recurved, twisting with apex turned, margins replicate; greyish green outside, greenish yellow inside. Gynostegial column shortly pseudostipitate. Corona: interstaminal corona lobes exceeding corolla tube, consisting of 5 lobes fused basally into a tube 3-4 mm long; lobes apically divided into 3 lobules, middle one being cylindric and longer (3-4 mm), while lobules on each side are flatter and shorter, these lobules flex strongly outwards apically, major complex lobes connected by 5 linear lobules that are truncate to emarginate, spreading outwards; staminal corona of 5 cylindric lobes appressed against the stamens and overtopping them and reflexed out towards apex. Anther appendages erect, inflated ± 2/3 as long as corona tube.

It is a tropical plant. It cannot tolerate frost. It grows in drier places.

The large watery roots are eaten. The young leaves are eaten as a potherb.

Plants are grown from seed.