Larryleachia marlothii

Scientific Name

Larryleachia marlothii (N. E. Br.) D.C.H. Plowes

Synonym(s)

Ceropegia marlothii, Hoodia marlothii, Lavrania marlothii, Leachia marlothii, Leachiella marlothii, Trichocaulon marlothii

Scientific Classification

Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Genus: Larryleachia

Description

Larryleachia marlothii is a small succulent with erect to spreading, egg-shaped to club-shaped or nearly cylindrical stems with flattened polygonal tubercles, crowded but arranged into 12 to 19 rows, each tipped with small leaf-rudiment. The stems grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall and 2.2 inches (5.5 cm) in diameter, branching from the base to form a clump of 3 to 30 stems.

The flowers appear solitary or in groups of 2 to 5, mainly in the upper parts of the stem in summer, developing successively. The corolla is smooth, bell-shaped to more or less wheel-shaped, and up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in diameter. Inside is variously mottled with red to dark red-brown on a cream background, sometimes nearly uniformly dark purple-brown. Outside is green spotted with reddish. The corona is up to 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) in diameter, irregularly spotted, and lined with pink to maroon on a cream background.

Origin

The native range of Larryleachia marlothii is along practically the whole length of Namibia and extends eastwards into the Northern Cape province of South Africa (Northern Cape) and may well exist in southern Angola too. It grows in stony flats with windblown sand.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zone 9a to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Stapeliads are relatively easy to grow. However, they should be treated as an 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. Stapeliads require a reasonable amount of sunlight to promote flowering and maintain a well-shaped plant. Very shady positions will produce very poor flowering.

These plants come from climates where they survive extremely high temperatures in the summer months, so most growth is in spring and fall, with flowering in fall when the weather starts to cool down. In the growing season, water in moderation when needed, ensuring the soil is fairly dried out between waterings. Do not water between late fall and early spring.

The easiest and best way to propagate Stapeliads is from stem cuttings which can be taken virtually throughout the year. Seed is also a method of propagation.

See more at How to Grow and Care for Stapeliads.

Photo Gallery

Click on a photo to see a larger version.