The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Common name: Climbing Onion, בואיה משתרגת, בואיה משתרגת

Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus)

Distribution: South Africa and Eastern Africa

Habitat: Savannas and open areas with rocky soil, 300-2300m.

IUCN Red list: Vulnerable

Life form: Geophyte

Etymology: Named after James Bowie, a 19th century botanist and plant collecor, who worked for Kew Gardens.

Uses: Used extensively for medicinal purposes for various skin diseases, sore eyes, glandular problems, to facilitate births, and to cause abortions. Magical properties areattributed to it: such as making warriors invincible, protection of travellers; and the concoction of love potions. . Nevertheless, the plant is toxic and may cause deathto those consuming it.

In memory: of Nizza Yaffe-Ovadia, a teacher of nature and life.

Description: A bulbous perennial plant. The bulb is large and long-lived - it can reach 30 cm in diameter and live for 70 years. It grows mostly above-ground. In winter the plant is dormant and it regenerates in late spring to summer. Two long stems sprout from the bulb.They are 2.5-6 m long, narrow and twining, resembling Asparagus stems, only slimmer. These stems are actually the inflorecsences, as there are no leaves on them. The plant has 1-2 true leaves that sprout directly from the bulb and are short lived. The stems are succulent yet slim, and can climb on the nearby vegetation and rocks. The flower has 6 tepals, it is greenish-white and 10-16 mm in size. The plant blooms once or even twice a year.