Cyphostemma juttae (Dinter and Gilg) Desc. is a slow-growing succulent ornamental tree with several huge swollen bottle-shaped stems or one thick stem bearing a spreading crown of branches. The broad serrated, blue-green leaves forms a bizarre compact canopy at the top. Every winter it sheds those succulent leaves completely, leaving only the swollen stem. Flowers borne in early summer are inconspicuous but the grape-like bunches of fruit are red, and later purple and definitely attract attention.Stem: The thick swollen stem or caudex (which makes this plant a caudiciform) usually grows up to 2 m tall and 1 m thick (occasionally to 4 m in height ) and acts as water reservoirs in times of drought. Branches few upright growing, almost as thick as the main stem, tapering. The trunk and branches are thick, woody yellow-green with a white, peeling, papery bark that is very typical of this species. In summer this bark helps to reflect away the sunlight in order to keep the plant cool.
The name for the genus comes from Greek words 'kyphos' meaning "hump" and stemma, meaning a "wreath" or "garland". The specific epithet honors Jutta Dinter, wife of the German botanist Kurt Dinter.