Stapelia hirsutaL.
African Starfish flower , Carrion Plant , Starfish Flower , Hairy Stapelia
Ceropegia pulvinata , Gonostemon hirsutus , Stisseria hirsuta , Stapelia hirsutavar.hirsuta
Photo by Raffa C. Garcia
Family : ApocynaceaeSubfamily : AsclepiadoideaeTribe : StapeliaeGenus : Stapelia
The specific name " hirsuta " ( pronounce her - SOO - tuh ) means " grating , shaggy , bristly , splenetic ; haired , hirsute " and refers to the farsighted hairsbreadth on the corolla of this specie .
Stapelia hirsutais native toSouth AfricaandNamibia . It grows on stony , often sandstone slopes from Rosh Pinah in Nambia to Vredendal and Malmesbury in Western Cape and Humansdorp in Eastern Cape province of South Africa .
Photo byMarga
Stapelia hirsutais an attractivesucculentthat forms dense cluster of upright , greyish - green to green stems often suffused or mottle with Bolshevik . The bow are subquadrangular and can grow up to 8 column inch ( 20 cm ) tall and 8 inches ( 2 cm ) thick .
From late summertime through late fall , Stapelia hirsutaproduces large flowers on circulate stubble mensurate up to 2.8 in ( 7 cm ) long . The flowers can reach a diameter of 5.6 inches ( 14 cm ) . The corolla is purple cream on the outside with 3 to 7 sinister longitudinal veins . Inside , it is purple - red ink with yellow bands and ordinarily gently hirsute around the corona and along the margins of the lobes . The aureole is regal - red and raised on a myopic , densely pentangular stipe .
Stapelia hirsutais a extremely variable species with various race and hybrid .
Photo byCactus Art
USDA hardiness zones10b to 11b : from 35 ° F ( +1.7 ° coke ) to 50 ° F ( +10 ° coke ) .
Several coinage are fairly easy to grow . Others , often those with slightly hairy stems and the more unusual flowers , are more ambitious and ask careful watering ( with some fertilizer ) during the growing season and perfect urine withdrawal during the winter months . A minimum winter temperature of 10 ° C ( 50 ° F ) is satisfactory , providing plants are stay fresh dry . A het up growing bench or brooder may help delicate plant life get through the colder months . However , many coinage live under shrub in their home ground and prefer clear shade rather than full sun .
Agritty succulent soil mixis all-important , and clay pots are advisable for the more finespun metal money . Some growers prefer mineral - only soil to minimize the opportunity of a fungous onset on the roots . A layer of grit on the soil ’s surface prevents moisture from conglomerate around the foot of the stalk .
Photo byLourdes
KeepingStapelias and their root free of gadfly such asmealybugsis the key to success , asfungal attackoften occurs due to damage to fore by insects .
Learn more atHow to spring up and give care for Stapelia .
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