Scientific Name
Boucerosia pauciflora Wight
Synonym(s)
Caralluma pauciflora, Ceropegia pauciflora, Desmidorchis pauciflora, Hutchinia pauciflora
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Subtribe: Stapeliinae
Genus: Boucerosia
Etymology
The specific epithet "pauciflora" (pronounced "PAW-ki-flor-uh") means "few-flowered; having few flowers" and refers to this species' tendency to produce flowers in very small numbers. Typically, the flowers appear in pairs or even singly, rather than in the large, dense clusters seen in other species of the same genus.
Origin
Boucerosia pauciflora is native to India.
Description
Boucerosia pauciflora, formerly known as Caralluma pauciflora, is a succulent plant with fleshy, branched, 4-angled stems that can be upright or ascending. It can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall.
The flowers are hairy, greenish-yellow, striped reddish-brown, and can reach a diameter of 1 inch (2.5 cm).
How to Grow and Care for Boucerosia pauciflora
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zone 10a to 11b: from 30°F (-1.1°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Stapeliads are relatively easy to grow. However, they should be treated as outdoor plants as they will easily rot indoors and cannot flower without exposure to outdoor temperature fluctuations. They should be grown under cover so that watering can be controlled. They require a reasonable amount of sunlight to promote flowering and maintain a well-shaped plant. Very shady positions will produce very poor flowering. Stapeliads come from climates where they survive extremely high temperatures in the summer months, so most growth is in spring and autumn, with flowering in autumn when the weather starts to cool down.
The easiest and best way to propagate Stapeliads is from stem cuttings, which can be taken year-round. Seed is also a method of propagation. They all need extra good drainage. Stapeliads are shallow-rooted, and a collection of them can be planted up nicely in a wide, shallow bowl. When planting, it is a good idea to bury the roots in soil and then place pure gravel or sand around the base of the plant to prevent rot.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Stapeliads.
Links
- Back to genus Boucerosia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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