Home | > | List of families | > | Apocynaceae subfamilies Asclepiadoideae and Secamonoideae | > | Stapelia | > | gigantea |
Synonyms: |
Ceropegia gigantea (N.E.Br.) Bruyns Stapelia marlothii N.E. Br. Stapelia nobilis N.E. Br. ex Hook. Stapelia youngii N.E. Br. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Somewhat straggling succulent perennial. Stems 4-angled, more or less erect, up to 25 cm tall, pubescent, not prominently tuberculate. Leaves 2-3 mm, pubescent, acute with obscure stipular glands. Flowers opening in succession on a short, densely pubescent peduncle from the base of the stem. Corolla flat and wheel-shaped 12-40 cm in diameter, deeply lobed, limb flat or somewhat cup-shaped. Lobes ovate-acuminate with 3 prominent main veins on the outside; inside buff to reddish, finely wrinkled with transverse red-brown to purple lines, weakly hairy; margins ciliate with longer hairs. Corona dark purple, outer lobes erect-spreading, oblong to subspathulate, 5-6 × 1.5-2.5 mm; inner lobes, 8-12 × 1-2 mm, sometimes concealing the anthers. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | gigantea: gigantic, huge, referring to the very large flowers |
Habitat: | In a variety of habitats, often in rocky areas on wooded hillsides |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1200 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Southern Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and eastern South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | Data deficient |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Monday 6 February 2017 |
Literature: |
Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 119. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 104 - 105. (Includes a picture). Binns, B. (1968). A First Check List of the Herbaceous Flora of Malawi The Government Printer, Zomba, Malawi Page 22. also as Stapelia nobilis Bruyns, P.V. (2005). Stapeliads of Southern Africa and Madagascar Volume II Umdaus Press, Hatfield, South Africa Pages 472 - 474. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 34. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 178. Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Apocynaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Pages 193 - 194. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 371. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 22. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 29. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Apocynaceae subfamilies Asclepiadoideae and Secamonoideae | > | Stapelia | > | gigantea |