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Tylosema esculentum

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Author: Annelis Schreiber, 1960
Family:  FABACEAE
Origin:  Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Soil:  Sandy
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  30 Centimetres
Height:  300 Centimetres
Flower:  Yellow-Orange
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  Gemsbok Bean, Marama Bean, Camel's Foot
Synonyms:  Bauhinia bainesii, Schinz.
Bauhinia burkeana, Benth. ex Harv. & Sond.
Bauhinia esculenta, William John Burchell, 1824.
Phanera burkeana, Benth.
(By mistake: Tylosema esculenta)

This member of the Fabaceae family was given this name by Annelis Schreiber in 1960. It is found in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, growing in a well drained sandy soil with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow to 30 centimetres or even bigger in diameter, the entire plant to three metres long, climbing on the ground. The flowers are yellow-orange.

The genera name refers to the torulose seed. The species name means 'edible'.

A 277 kg plant been recorded in Botswana.


Wild plant by H. Moss, Plantsoftheworldonline.org.


The flower by E. Erb, Tropical.theferns.info.