Gerrardanthus macrorhizusHarv . ex Benth . & Hook.f .
Bigfoot
Gerrardanthus portentosus
Photo viaagaveville.org
kinsperson : CucurbitaceaeTribe : ZanonieaeGenus : Gerrardanthus
The specific epithet " macrorhizus(mak - roh - RY - Zubird ) " means " bombastic - rooted , having with child root word " and relate to the large tuberous rootstock of the species .
Gerrardanthus macrorhizusis native toSouth Africa(Eastern Cape and KwaZulu - Natal ) andEswatini . It occurs in lowland forest .
Gerrardanthus macrorhizusis a repeated climber with woody , high - mounting stems that arise from a flatten out tuberous rhizome . The caudex can reach a diam of 5 foot ( 1.5 m ) , while the stem can maturate up to 65.6 feet ( 20 m ) long . The leaves are somewhat lush , broadly ovate or core - shaped in outline , unlobed or palmately 3- to 7 - lob , and can valuate up to 3.2 inches ( 8 cm ) long and wide . They are smooth , burnished , dark green , and prominently vein .
During the summer , Gerrardanthus macrorhizusproduces brownish heyday about 0.5 inch ( 1.5 cm ) in diameter . This plant is dioecian , suffer manly and distaff flowers on disjoined plants . The male efflorescence seem 2 to 7 in corymbiform axillary fascicles , while the female flowers appear solitary . If a female heyday is fecundated , it is come by a flask - regulate capsule dry out brownish - yellowed and dehiscing at the top .
USDA hardiness zones9b to 11b : from 25 ° F ( −3.9 ° C ) to 50 ° F ( +10 ° ascorbic acid ) .
Young plant make interesting hang basket subjects . They are relatively easy to grow and rapidly develop a nice caudex , provided they get abundant water and fertilizer in summer and a with child pot . It is also estimable in rock andsucculent gardens , particularly at the back sharpness , climbing a fencing , wall , or even a trellis or arbor .
The vine can be place in direct sunlight , but the caudex should stay in the shade . Place Bigfoot under a shelter to keep it out of the rain and bring it inwardly when it get too inhuman .
Bigfoot is one of the hardy plants you’re able to get . It will live temperature between 30 and 95 ⁰F ( -2 and 35 ⁰C ) . Still , it will flourish at around 80 ⁰F ( 25 ⁰C ) .
With its Cucumis sativus heritage , this plant can survive extended periods of drouth but can utilise a bit of extrawater in the summer , around once a week . The only danger here is if water ca n’t enfeeble from the green goddess , resulting in the decomposition of the stock . It require fantabulous drainage . As a substrate , the cactus mix will be suitable .
See more atHow to develop and deal for a Bigfoot ( Gerrardanthus macrorhizus ) .
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