Origin and Habitat: As the name implies the species is found principally in Angola, but also in neighbouring Tanzania.

• Raphionacme angolensis (Baill.) N.E.Br.
• Zaczatea angolensis Baill.
• Zucchellia angolensis Decne.

• Raphionacme angolensis (Baill.) N.E.Br.
• Zaczatea angolensis Baill.
• Zucchellia angolensis Decne.
• Raphionacme kubangensis S.Moore
• Raphionacme pachyodon K.Schum. ex Schinz

Description: R. angolensis is a small growing caudiciform plant with short herbaceos vining shoots from the underground tuber.
Tuber (caudex): Almost spherical to turnip shaped up to 20 cm in diameter, almost always unbranched; bark reddish-brown.
Stems (vines): Few, deciduous erect to recumbent, shrubby up to 60 cm long (usually less), pubescent, somewhat viscid, with swollen nodes, basally woody with herbaceous new growth.
Leaves: In well-spaced pairs; grey-green, somewhat viscid, sub-succulent, elliptic 2,5 -7 long and 1,3-4,5 cm in width, tapering equally to both ends; petiole 5-15 mm long; margins very finely ciliate.
Inflorescences: Terminal 3,8-5 cm wide on short stout stalk, many-flowered;
Flower: Star-shaped greenish/red-brown.
Blooming season: Summer.
Fruit: Tomentose hairy.
Remarks: The species is very closely related to Raphionacme procumbens with which it may actually be conspecific.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Urs Eggli "Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Dicotyledons" Springer Science & Business Media, 2002
2) Werner Rauh "The Wonderful World of Succulents: Cultivation and Description of Selected Succulent Plants Other Than Cacti" Smithsonian Institution Press, 1984
3)James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011

Cultivation and Propagation: In cultivation the plants are usually grown in semi shade, with the tubers wholly or (preferably) partially exposed to prevent scorching and rotting of the roots. This plant can take a good deal of water during active growth and should be watered only when not dormant. Keep dryish in winter. It should be overwintered in the greenhouse at temperatures over 12°C (avoid letting temperatures drop lower than 5° C). Use a very draining but rich soil. An error in cultivation may produce unsightly holes in the tuber.
Reproduction: Can be reproduced by seeds.