Duvalia politais one of the most widespreadspeciesof thegenusDuvalia . It is a little flora that produce beautiful flowers that are highly varying in vividness .
Duvalia politaN.E.Br .
Polished Star

In cultivation, Ariquemes, Amazonas, Brazil. Photo by Milton Cazon Nina. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Ceropegia polita
Family : ApocynaceaeSubfamily : AsclepiadoideaeTribe : CeropegieaeSubtribe : StapeliinaeGenus : Duvalia
The specific epithet " polita " ( pronounced " POL - ee - tuh " ) means " svelte , smoothed " and refer to the smooth and shining show of the base of the corolla lobes of the prime of this coinage .

In cultivation, Ariquemes, Amazonas, Brazil. Photo by Milton Cazon Nina. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Duvalia politais native to several southerly African body politic , includingAngola , Zambia , Malawi , Zimbabwe , Namibia , Botswana , Mozambique , South Africa , andEswatini . It typically produce in ironical woodlands and scouring areas , often found in arenaceous stain or on stony hillsides at elevations straddle from 3,280 to 5,250 feet ( 1,000 to 1,600 m ) .
Duvalia politais a smallsucculentthat formsclumpsof green to brown , cylindric stems with conicaltuberclesarranged at six Angle along their length . Thedecumbentstems can grow up to 4 inches ( 10 cm ) long and 0.6 inches ( 1.5 centimeter ) thick . The tubercles can appraise up to 0.4 inches ( 1 cm ) farseeing and taper step by step into lance - shaped leaf rudiments subtended bystipulardenticles .
From mid - summer to former gloaming , Duvalia politaproduces attractive flowers that emerge near the base of the stems . They appearsolitaryor in groups of up to 4 , open in gradual succession . The corolla can reach a diameter of 1.4 inch ( 3.5 atomic number 96 ) . Thecorollais pale green on the outside , while the inside depart from shiny to tedious reddish and dark purplish - brown , becoming paler around the centre . Sometimes , thelobesare spotted with these color on a yellowed - to - cream background , with a dreary purple - brown center that is not spotted . Theannuluscan be spot or unspotted , covered with finepapillae , and can value up to 0.2 inch ( 0.5 cm ) in meridian and 0.5 inches ( 1.2 centimetre ) in diameter . Thecoronais scarlet - brown and can hand a diameter of 0.25 inches ( 0.6 atomic number 96 ) . The fruits are pairedfolliclesthat resemble cornet and can grow up to 8 inches ( 20 cm ) long , appearing long after the flowers .

In habitat, Mberengwa, Zimbabwe. Derivative of a photo byBart Wursten. Licensed underCC BY-NC 4.0.
brightness level : Duvalia politaprefers full sun but will benefit from abstemious shade during the hottest summer days . Indoors , place the industrial plant near the brightest window of your home because it will stretch if it does not receive enough sunlight . Avoid suddenly moving a plant adapted to depleted light levels to full sun to preclude sunburn .
Soil : Use commercial potting soil mixing for succulent or prepare your own with 50 % to 70 % mineral gumption , such as coarse sand , pumice stone , or perlite .
Temperature : The plant thrive in tender outdoor environments with humble to temperate humidity . It does not care winter cold and should remain fairly ironical and warm during its quiescency . Duvalia politagrows best inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones11a to 11b , with average minimum winter temperature set out from 40 ° F to 50 ° F ( 4.4 ° cytosine to 10 ° C ) .

In cultivation, Vredendal, Western Cape, South Africa. Photo by Paul Schultz. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
lachrymation : It has typical tearing indigence for a succulent . During the growing season , from spring to fall down , irrigate the plant thoroughly and earmark the ground to dry out between waterings . When it move inactive in winter , it require almost no water , about once a calendar month .
Fertilizing : Fertilizing is a good mind to keep the plant life healthy and thriving . tip it with water - soluble plant food diluted to half the recommended strength , but only when the plant is actively growing .
Repotting : RepotDuvalia politain spring , just before the acquire season . It has shallow root word and does not require too much land to produce . Always pick a container with drainage mess .
multiplication : The in force agency to propagate this succulent is by root word cutting . To ensure good rooting , take cuttings during the growing time of year . The plant is also easy to start from seeded player in spring .
instruct more atHow to turn and Care for Stapeliads .
Duvalia politahas no toxic effects report , so it is safe for produce around kids and pets .
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