The Bushmen in South-Africa often use this plant in the dry season because of the large amount of water to be found in its tuber. In spring these exotic plants are in full bloom with tiny, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers. This Raphionacme burkei plant from South-Africa has a large tuber growing above ground and from its top emerge its stalks and leaves. The exotic-looking tuber is called a ‘caudex’ and has a very smooth surface. The tuber serves as a depository for extra water and nutrients that can be utilised by the plant in dry periods. The tuber can eventually grow to a diameter of about 40 centimetres. It takes quite some time for the plant to reach this size: the Raphionacme burkei plants from Araflora are already 10 to 20 years old. The Raphionacme burkei is classified under the family of the Asciepiadaceae. In the past these plants were taken from their natural surroundings. Nowadays these exotic plants are cultivated in South-Africa and afterwards transported to Europe.

A Raphionacme burkei ‘caudex’ plant can best be cultivated in a warm place half in the shade. It needs only very little water except in the growing season when fertilizer and additional water should be provided. Once a year the leaves and the stalks will die off and can be trimmed away. When the plant grows a little too large pruning is no problem. Since the plants supplied by Araflora are 10 to 20 years old, the tubers are already large and will provide the plant with a stock on hand. Because of this the plant is even easier to care for, as periods with too little water or nutrients can be tided over by the reserves in the tuber.