Huernia thuretii

This small stem-succulent is one of a group of milkweed relatives known as the stapeliads. The plants in this group generally have 5-ponted flowers (often with a starfish-like appearance), but the flower in the photo above has made an anomalous bloom with 6 points, visible at the bottom of the photo among a group of unopened buds. Huernia thuretii is only one among hundreds of species in numerous genera that belong to the stapeliad group. These were all formerly put in the Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae), but this whole family has been merged into the related Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae). Huernia thuretii comes from South Africa's Eastern Cape Province.

-Brian

stacked stapelias.. the flies fucking love them!!

I’ve been under scrutiny. • #stapeliaschinzii #stapelia #stapeliad #asclepiadaceae #asclepias #flowerstagram #succulents #succulentsofinstagram #succulove #succulentaddict #succulentlove #flowersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CogBCuxyFRV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Check out what I spotted among all my plants yesterday! This is Huernia x pendurata, a stapeliad-type succulent that attracts flies to pollinate its flowers instead of bees. The flower is meant to mimic a dead thing, so the flies will come lay their eggs on it and inadvertently pollinate it. 

The spiky textures are surprisingly soft. I had to try smelling it, of course. It doesn’t put off a noticeable smell from a distance, but hold it under your nose, and you’ll notice. 

Verdict: I see why the flies fall for this. It smells like a dead animal left in the sun. Very distinctly a “corpse in the sun” smell, which makes sense for a desert plant trying to lure desert flies. I’m not sure how much of that is chemical composition versus the plant itself being in the sun, but I thought it was an interesting detail either way.

I have about 20 other stapeliads, in varying stages of grown-from-cuttings. Apparently they’ll bloom at a much smaller size than I expected, so I’m excited to see if anything else flowers soon. I had kinda thought the pics online of a flowering cutting-sized plant must be staged, but apparently not! 

Might be best not to have everything bloom at once, though. One stapeliad doesn’t smell too strongly (barring some of the larger stapelias), but a dozen? RIP me for keeping these in my bedroom. 

Caralluma hexagona

'Orbea Variegata' propagated from seed (germinated Dec 2018, SeedsandAll)

It is shown here producing its first flower. What makes this plant so unusual is that the flower emits a strong rather putrid smell that attracts its main pollinator - flies. The genus is distributed widely throughout Africa and enters the Arabian Peninsula. Strangely, Orbea localities have not been observed in Madagascar nor in the South African province of Lesotho. This genus is florally very diverse and flowers are adapted to a wide range of different fly species.

Flor de Stapelia. #omeujardim #flowers #garden #jardim #jardinar #jardins #gardening #jardinagem #fleurs #botany #botanica #exoticplants #flores #stapeliad #stapelias (em Benfica, Lisboa, Portugal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDLceoijQ24/?igshid=aovwxtsexsbd

It’s that time of year again! 🙌 #StapeliaGrandiflora stinking up the yard, dramatically feigning death! #stapelia #succulents #stapeliad #starfishcactus #corpseflower #starfishplant #starfishflower #smelly #stinkyflower https://www.instagram.com/p/CEmx8dQjzJR/?igshid=p863bxh1ywbb

I was so pleasantly surprised and proud that my crested Caralluma Hesperidum decided to bloom 🌸

The flower is so beautiful 😍

Tiny Stapelia in bloom in my collection!

Happy Birthday, America! 🇱🇷🎈 #stapelia #stapeliad #huernia #asclepiadaceae #coolplants #weirdplants #succulentsofinstagram #succulenthoarder #succulentobsessed #succulentobsession #succulentcollection #africanplants #suculenta #suculentasycactus #sukulent #houseplants #plantlovers #ihavethisthingwithplants #discovertheplantcommunity #succulentjunkie #succuholic #macrophotos #macrophotography #plantphotography #flowerphotography #planthoarder #crazyplantlady #greenthumb #livingwithplants #plantsarelife https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzg3bxfhhUI/?igshid=x8d1n695fixg

Stapelia hirsuta

The stapeliads are a large group in the Apocynaceae family, and in particular they belong the the milkweed subfamily: Asclepiadoideae (this was formerly treated as its own family, Asclepiadaceae). These are stem succulents, and they generally form short clumps of toothy-edged stems, with five-pointed starfish-like flowers. Stapelia hirsuta is notable for its very hairy flowers, which emit a foul odor in order to attract the flies that pollinate them. The upper photo shows a plant with 2 open flowers, plus a bud at the very bottom of the picture (the buds look like the pointed domes atop the Kremlin). From the western part of South Africa and adjacent southwestern Namibia.

-Brian

Huernia zebrina! (Livesaver plant)

These guys are so weird!! In general a lot of stapeliads (and some other milkweeds) have strange carrion flowers , but these ones are especially bizarre because they look like they have the plastic floatation devices from their namesake built into them. (Or if you’re me, Livesavers candy pieces.)

Milkweed family plants like Stapeliads are so-named because when injured they secrete toxic latex that resembles milk in color.

Extraordinary colours, So don’t hide under your covers. • #succulents #succulentsaturday #succulentlove #succulentaddict #succulove #tavaresiaangolensis #tavaresia #asclepiadaceae #asclepiad #stapeliad #flowerstagram #flowersofinstagram #succulentsofinstagram #igdaily #plantlover #plantstagram #houseplantclub #houseplants #plantdaddy https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg5n6iOPla_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Pseudolithos cubiformis again! It's honestly becoming my most reliable bloomer, which I never would have expected. Also: if you would like, you can vote for me and this dude (pic from last year) on this Facebook post. It's the last photo. (Or vote for one of the other contestants, you do what you want.) Thanks!

Flower of Stapelia mutabilis, likely not an actual species but probably a hybrid of Orbea variegata and a plant grown from an open-pollinated Tromotriche revoluta. Like other stapeliads, the flower smells like rotting meat to attract flies for pollination.