This plant is a deciduous climber. The plant earns its name “elephant’s foot” due to the striking resemblance of its large, partially buried, tuberous stem or caudex. This unique feature grows at a slow pace, but can reach an impressive size, often exceeding 3 metres (10 feet) in circumference and standing nearly 1 metre (3 feet 3 inches) above the ground. It contains a high amount of starch, which is why it is commonly referred to as Hottentot bread. The exterior of the plant is protected by thick, tough, corky plates.
