Scientific Name
Caralluma stalagmifera C.E.C.Fisch.
Synonym(s)
Ceropegia stalagmifera
Common Name(s)
Dark Purple Caralluma
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Subtribe: Stapeliinae
Genus: Caralluma
Etymology
The specific epithet "stalagmifera" (pronounced "stal-ag-MEE-fer-uh") means "stalagmite-bearing" and refers to the stalagmite-like stems of this species.
Origin
Caralluma stalagmifera is native to southern India.
Description
Caralluma stalagmifera is a succulent plant with long, fleshy, sparsely branched stems with tiny, tooth-like leaves. It grows up to 16 inches (40 cm) tall. The stems are greyish-green with brown mottling and whitish ribs. They are quadrangular and can reach up to 24 inches (60 cm) in length and 0.8 inches (2 cm) in thickness. The leaves are stalkless, measuring up to 0.2 inches (5 mm) long.
The flowers, which can reach a diameter of 0.3 inches (0.8 cm), are deeply lobed, dark purple with purplish-yellow tips on the lobes. After 8 to 12 days, the flower color changes to brownish-green. The basal parts of some flowers are yellowish with dark markings at the lobes. Flowering occurs from winter to summer. The fruits are paired follicles that are purplish-streaked, round in cross-section, and tapering towards the apex. They can grow up to 5.2 inches (13 cm) long and 0.4 inches (1 cm) in diameter.
How to Grow and Care for Caralluma stalagmifera
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 summer temperatures, so most growth occurs in spring and autumn, with flowering in the fall as the weather starts to cool.
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 Caralluma
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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