Stapelia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iCarrion Flowers | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
hirsuta |
The genus Stapelia consists of around 40 species of low growing, spineless, stem succulent plants, predominantly from South Africa. The flowers in some species, notably Stapelia gigantea can reach 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter and in all species are hairy to varying degrees and generate the odour of rotten flesh. This attracts pollinating flies, metallic blue, green, or bronze blow flies of the dipteran family Calliphoridae. The colour of the flowers has been claimed to resemble that of rotting meat. Members of the Stapelia genus are nicknamed "carrion flowers."
They are commonly cultivated as pot- or rockery plants in warmer countries.
[edit] Species
- Stapelia lepida
- Stapelia gigantea
 |
This Asterid article is a stub. Please help Wikipedia grow by expanding it. |
