Pachycarpus schinzianus
Pachycarpus schinzianus
Safety & Hazards
The plant contains bitter-tasting glycosides. Although browsed plants are frequently encountered in the wild, experiments have shown the plants to be poisonous to sheep and guinea-pigs, which have died within one to two days after consuming the plants[1].
Cultivation Details
Found mainy in subtropical S. Africa, the range extends up into the tropical areas of southern Zimbabwe. As with many members of this family that have a deep rootstock, it is quite difficult to cultivate the plants. Plants of this genus generally have quite spectacular flowers but these only last a few days; the fruit and stems are not very attractive and the stems die back after fruiting and in the colder months. All this probably discourages growers to even attempt cultivation[1]. The thick underground rootstock is essential for the survival of the plants during the cold winter months and is also a mechanism that helps to avoid destruction of the entire plant during the fires that are common throughout the distribution range[1].
Propagation
Seed - Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pachycarpus+schinzianus>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]PlantZAfrica.com — http://www.plantzafrica.com ↩︎An excellent site giving detailed descriptions and uses of many S. African plants.