African Potato or Hypoxis hemerocallidea

The African Potato, also known as Hypoxis hemerocallidea, is a perennial herb native to southern Africa. It is a member of the Hypoxidaceae family and is commonly found in grasslands, scrublands and forests across the region. The plant is characterised by its bright yellow flowers and tubular leaves that grow from an underground corm. The corm, or underground storage organ, is the part of the plant that has been traditionally used in African traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including inflammation, infection and diabetes. Recent scientific research has suggested that the African Potato may have significant potential with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties, though more studies are needed to fully understand its therapeutic potential (van Wyk & Gericke, 2000; Ncube et al., 2012).