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Elephants foot, Dioscorea elephantipes
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Elephants foot, Dioscorea elephantipes
Elephants foot, Dioscorea elephantipes (Female cape bryony, Tamus elephantipes faemina). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by F. Sansom after an illustration by Sydenham Edwards from William Curtis The Botanical Magazine, London, 1811
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Media ID 23159386
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Bread Bryony Cape Curtis Dioscorea Edwards Elephants Foot Gardening Hottentot Sansom Sydenham
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This exquisite hand-colored copperplate engraving, created by F. Sansom after an illustration by Sydenham Edwards, showcases the intricate details of the female Elephants Foot, or Cape Bryony, Dioscorea elephantipes faemina. Native to South Africa, this unique plant is also known as the Hottentot Bread or Tamus elephantipes. The name Elephants Foot is derived from the plant's distinctive root system, which resembles the large, wrinkled foot of an elephant. The female Elephants Foot is characterized by its large, heart-shaped leaves, which are covered in small, white hairs. The plant produces small, greenish-yellow flowers that bloom in clusters. However, it is the root system that has earned this plant its notoriety. The edible tubers of the Elephants Foot were once an essential food source for the indigenous peoples of South Africa, particularly during times of food scarcity. This beautiful engraving, published in William Curtis' The Botanical Magazine in 1811, is a testament to the intricacies of botanical illustration during the early 19th century. The meticulous attention to detail, evident in the veining of the leaves and the textured representation of the root system, highlights the importance of botanical exploration and documentation during this period. The Elephants Foot remains an important plant in South African botany and continues to be studied for its medicinal properties. This engraving serves as a reminder of the rich biodiversity of the natural world and the role that botanical illustration plays in preserving and celebrating it.
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