Stapelia gigantea

Growing up to 20 cm (8 in) tall, it is a clump-forming succulent with erect green stems 3 cm (1.2 in) thick. The blooms are large star-shaped five-petalled flowers up to 25 cm (9.8 in) in diameter. The flowers are red and yellow, wrinkled, with a silky texture and fringed with hairs, that can be as long as 8 mm (0.3 in). The flowers of this plant bloom in the Fall season, triggered by the shorter daylight hours.They have the smell of rotting flesh, in order to attract the flies which pollinate them. Because of the foul odor of its flower, S. gigantea can act as an appetite suppressant in humans.There have been several proposed reasons for the size of the flowers of S. gigantea. First, it is possible that they are large to attract the flies that pollinate it. The largeness and color of the flower combined with the carrion smell may serve to make the flies think that it is a dead carcass and be more likely to visit it. It has also been proposed that these large flowers could work as thermal regulators, much like the large ears of a Fennec fox.

Water sparingly, allowing the mix to nearly dry out between watering.

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Stapelia Gigantea

Stapelia gigantea

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