Gerrardanthus is a small genus of perennial climbing plants in the family Cucurbitaceae (the cucumber and gourd family), order Cucurbitales. The genus is native to tropical Africa and South Africa, where its roughly 11 recognized species occur across sub-Saharan and southern Africa.
The most striking feature of the genus is its massively swollen, tuberous base — a caudex — which can reach up to 1.5 m in diameter in mature specimens. This structure stores water and nutrients, allowing the plant to survive the dry seasons characteristic of its native range. From this caudex arise herbaceous stems that climb to around 5 m; with age, the stems become woody and develop grey bark.
Gerrardanthus macrorhizus, commonly called "bigfoot," is the best-known species and is widely grown as a pot plant for its extraordinary caudex. The genus was first described by the Irish botanist William Henry Harvey (1811–1866) and named in honor of William Tyrer Gerrard, a botanical collector who worked in Natal and Madagascar during the 1860s.
Etymology
The genus name Gerrardanthus honors William Tyrer Gerrard (died 1866 in Mahavelona, Madagascar), a botanical collector active in Natal and Madagascar during the 1860s. The suffix -anthus is from Greek ἄνθος (anthos), meaning "flower." The genus was first described by William Henry Harvey.
Distribution
Gerrardanthus is native to tropical Africa and South Africa, with its range spanning sub-Saharan Africa. Individual species such as G. macrorhizus occur in southern Africa, while others extend across the tropical belt of the continent.
Cultivation
Gerrardanthus macrorhizus ("bigfoot") is cultivated as a pot plant, prized for its dramatically swollen caudex. Its succulent base stores water, making it tolerant of dry conditions when grown as a houseplant or in succulent collections.
