Stapelia is a genus of low-growing, spineless, stem succulent , predominantly from South Africa with a few from other parts of Africa. Several Asian and Latin American species were formerly included but they have all now been transferred to other genera.[Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).][ Tropicos] The of certain species, most notably Stapelia gigantea, can reach 41 cm (16 inches) in diameter when fully open. Most Stapelia flowers are visibly hairy and generate the odor of rotten flesh when they bloom.
Description
The hairy, oddly textured and coloured appearance of many
Stapelia flowers has been claimed to resemble that of rotting meat, and this, coupled with their odour, has earned the most commonly grown members of the genus
Stapelia the common name of
.
A notable exception is the sweetly scented
Stapelia flavopurpurea. Such odours serve to attract various specialist pollinators including, in the case of carrion-scented blooms,
blow-fly of the
family
Calliphoridae. They frequently lay eggs around the coronae of
Stapelia flowers, convinced by the plants' deception.
[ PlantZAfrica.com, Stapelia Info]
Cultivation
A handful of species are commonly cultivated as pot plants and are even used as rockery plants in countries where the climate permits.
Stapelia are good container plants and can grow well under full sun and light to moderate watering. They should be planted in well-drained compost as the stems are prone to rotting if kept moist for long.
[ TheLovelyPlants.com, TheLovelyPlants.com]
Species
32 species are accepted:
[
]
- Unplaced names
-
Stapelia × dejecta
-
Stapelia fuscopurpurea
-
Stapelia × massonii
-
Stapelia × multiflora
-
Stapelia × multiflora
-
Stapelia × plantii
now transferred to other genera (Angolluma, Brachystelma, Caralluma, Duvalia, Echidnopsis, Gonolobus, Hoodia, Hoya, Huernia, Monolluma, Orbea, Orbeopsis, Pachycymbium, Piaranthus, Quaqua, Stapelianthus, Tromotriche, Tridentea, Triplosperma)
