tortoise-plant

from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

• n. A South African plant, Testudinaria elephantipes, having a bulky, woody rootstock above the ground, the exterior of which by cracking gains the appearance of a tortoise-shell. This body, from having been used as food, is also called Hottentot's-bread, and its appearance before it is full-grown suggests the name elephant's-foot. See Testudinaria.