Stapelia grandiflora

Name and distribution

Plants of the World Online accepts the name Stapelia grandiflora Masson, published in 1797. The literature also uses Ceropegia grandiflora (Masson) Bruyns, a combination from 2017. The natural range covers southern Africa, including South Africa’s Cape provinces and Lesotho. The database assigns the species to the desert and dry scrub biome. [2-WWW]

Stems, flowers and fruits

Stems reach about 30 cm tall. Their angular surfaces are separated by distinctly toothed edges. The flower is about 15 cm in diameter. The corolla is dark purple-brown, with darker lobe tips and long purple hairs. SANBI describes the plant as widely but unevenly distributed in the Great Karoo and the eastern Cape region. [18-WWW]

The fruit usually consists of two elongated follicles. When they open, seeds with tufts of silky hairs are released, aiding wind dispersal. In cultivation, follicle ripening can be slow, sometimes taking nearly a year. [13-WWW]

The flower as a signal to flies

Fischer and Vicha described attraction of blowflies to flowers of S. grandiflora cultivated at two urban locations in southern Moravia. They recorded Calliphora vicina, Lucilia caesar and L. cuprina, as well as egg laying on the flowers. Neither pollination nor further larval development was observed. The result documents European flies’ response to flowers of a cultivated plant. The study covered precisely these two sites. [Fischer and Vicha 2003]

Cultivation and propagation

The plant needs a freely draining succulent substrate that dries between waterings. It grows well in a bright position. Partial shade is beneficial in very hot locations. Plants grown outdoors are brought inside before autumn cooling. Propagation is possible from seeds and stem cuttings. Mealybugs and aphids occur in collections, while keeping the substrate wet favours root and stem rot. [13-WWW]