Gerrardanthus macrorrhizus, commonly known as Bigfoot, is a fascinating plant native to South Africa, specifically from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal regions, as well as Eswatini. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is renowned for its large tuberous rootstock. The genus name Gerrardanthus honors William Tyrer Gerrard, a botanical collector in Natal and Madagascar in the 1860s, while the species name "macrorhizus" is derived from Greek, meaning "large-rooted," aptly describing the plant's prominent feature.

The plant is a perennial climber, notable for its woody, high-climbing stems that emerge from a flattened, pumpkin-like caudex. This caudex can grow quite large, reaching a diameter of up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) under favorable conditions. The stems of Gerrardanthus macrorhizus can grow up to 65.6 feet (20 meters) long, and its leaves are somewhat succulent, broadly ovate or heart-shaped, shiny, and dark green with prominent veining.

Bigfoot produces brownish flowers during the summer. Being dioecious, it has male and female flowers on separate plants. The male flowers appear in axillary fascicles, while the female flowers are solitary. If a female flower is fertilized, it produces a flask-shaped capsule that dries to a brownish-yellow color and opens at the top.

In terms of care, Gerrardanthus macrorhizus is relatively easy to grow and can rapidly develop a substantial caudex when provided with abundant water and fertilizer during the summer. It prefers partial sun and requires watering once a week in hot weather, reducing to only when the soil is dry in fall and winter. It's a hardy plant, tolerating temperatures from 25 to 95 °F (-4 to 35 °C), though it flourishes around 80 °F (27 °C). The plant is suitable for rock and succulent gardens, and can be used as a hanging basket subject for young plants.

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