In a previous blog, we discussed the difference between male and female Euphorbia obesa. As a brief recap on the older blog, most plants on Earth are monoecious, or genderless. Both the male and female flowers, or parts of the flowers, occur on the same plant. However, with plants like Dioscorea elephantipes, also known as the Elephant’s Foot plant, this is not the case. These plants are dioecious. This means that there are separate male and female plants, and you will need at least one of each to produce seed. In this blog, we will discuss how to identify the genders of Dioscorea elephantipes.
Taking a closer look
Dioscorea elephantipes has pale-yellow-white, almost daisy-like flowers with six petals. However, their flowers are quite small, only reaching about 5mm in diameter. The other feature that makes them stand out from other succulent flowers is their scent. Dioscorea elephantipes flowers have a pleasant, perfume-y and almost vanilla-like smell. This attracts their natural pollinators, mainly carpenter bees and honey bees.
This species is opportunistic and will flower when conditions are favourable, normally soon after the growing season begins in late summer. Generally, plants need to be 8-10 years old to produce flowers, but there are reports of young plants producing flowers at around 5 years old. Lastly, only about a quarter of plants will be female. The vast majority of specimens are males.
Male Dioscorea elephantipes flowers
The flowers of male Dioscorea elephantipes are relatively short, and seem to be attached to their own thin ‘stem’ growing from the vine. The male flowers have barely protruding yellow anthers. These produce pollen, making it the easiest way to identify a male plant. If you are unsure, rub a cotton bud on the protruding portion of the flower. If there is pollen on it (powdery yellow substance), the plant is a male.
Male Dioscorea elephantipes flowers with short, semi-protruding anthers
Female Dioscorea elephantipes flowers
In contrast to the thin-stemmed male flowers, female Dioscorea elephantipes flowers grow on top of a enlarged, three-lobed ovary, which is clearly distinguishable from the plant’s vines. This is the part of the flower that will form a seed pod. On top of the flower there is a single, three-pronged stigma. The stigma is pure white, and may appear somewhat sticky. The flower petals also tend to bend backwards, allowing pollinators easier access to the stigma.
Female Dioscorea elephantipes flowers, with ovaries and stigma
Pollinating Dioscorea elephantipes flowers
As mentioned earlier, the main pollinators of Dioscorea elephantipes are carpenter bees and honey bees. However, if you do not want to wait for nature to take its course, you can use an extra fine paintbrush to pollinate these plants. Gently brush the male flowers to collect yellow pollen, then apply it to the female plant.
Once you successfully pollinate a female plant, it produces a large, three-sided fruit. This fruit, also known as a seed pod, contains the seeds. The seed pod will continue growing larger before eventually turning a light brown colour. At this point, it is important to cover the pod with some fine mesh or an organza bag in order to capture the seeds. Otherwise, the pod will burst open and wind will disperse the seeds.
Germinating Dioscorea elephantipes seeds
Seeds should be sown in early autumn. Plant the seeds in a coco peat mix in an airtight container, and cover them with some sifted coco peat. Once most of the seeds have germinated, remove the lid of the container to allow airflow. Gently water the seedlings every few days so that the soil does not dry out. The container should be relatively deep to accommodate their root systems.
Want to obtain your own Dioscorea elephantipes – Elephant’s Foot plant?
If you want to add one of these plants to your collection, we can help! Living Desert Plants grows Dioscorea elephantipes from seed, and you can order one by clicking here.
Written by Harry Lewis, succulent specialist & conservationist