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indigenous
Babiana hypogea is found in various locations
around Botswana. I have seen plants in
Kgatleng, South-east, and Kweneng districts
in Botswana. They seem to appear after a
good rainy season like the one we’ve just
had.
As the corms are edible, many people harvest
this plant from the wild, so please consider the
impact of over-harvesting and instead try to
cultivate these plants at home for that purpose, as
not only are they edible, but very beautiful too.
They are very hardy and water-wise. Sow seeds
after ripening, and cover them very thinly with
compost or grit, leaving some of the seed
showing, as light can aid germination. Seed will
take between 4 to 8 weeks to germinate.
pics & text by S.C
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