This image features a detailed close-up of the Dioscorea mexicana, also known as the turtle back plant. The plant’s woody caudex shows off its naturally cracked, geometric pattern resembling a turtle shell. It sits in a bed of lava rocks and soil, highlighting its unusual structure and rarity. The background is softly blurred to focus attention on the caudex. This plant is a slow-growing rarity, often found in rare plant collections and ethically cultivated by caudiciform enthusiasts.