Hypoxidaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Hypoxis fischeri

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Hypoxis fischeri is a robust, perennial plant producing a cluster of grass-like leaves from a corm-like tuber; it can grow up to 75cm tall[ 1923 Title The genus Hypoxis L. (Hypoxidaceae) in the East Tropical Africa: variability, distribution and conservation status Publication Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 14: 1-129, 2009 Author Wiland-Szymańska J. Website http://10.2478/v10119-009-0011-5 Publisher Year 2009 ISBN Description ]. The plant is harvested fom the wild for local use as a food and a medicine This species as a whole is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2009), but some varieties have a different status. Var fischeri is classed as 'Near Threatened', var katangensis is classified as 'Critically Endangered', and may be extinct[ 1923 Title The genus Hypoxis L. (Hypoxidaceae) in the East Tropical Africa: variability, distribution and conservation status Publication Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 14: 1-129, 2009 Author Wiland-Szymańska J. Website http://10.2478/v10119-009-0011-5 Publisher Year 2009 ISBN Description ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeTropical Africa - Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique

HabitatWooded grassland, wet grassland, in short grass, among rocks on fireswept eroded hillside, upland pasture; at elevations from 1,067 - 2,743 metres, but mainly between 1,500 - 2,000 metres[ 1923 Title The genus Hypoxis L. (Hypoxidaceae) in the East Tropical Africa: variability, distribution and conservation status Publication Biodiv. Res. Conserv. 14: 1-129, 2009 Author Wiland-Szymańska J. Website http://10.2478/v10119-009-0011-5 Publisher Year 2009 ISBN Description ]