Scientific Name
Orbea caudata subsp. rhodesiaca (L.C. Leach) P.V Bruyns
Synonym(s)
Caralluma caudata subsp. rhodesiaca, Ceropegia caudata subsp. rhodesiaca, Orbeopsis caudata subsp. rhodesiaca
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Subtribe: Stapeliinae
Genus: Orbea
Etymology
The subspecific epithet "rhodesiaca" (pronounced "roh-dee-zee-AH-kuh") means "Rhodesian; of Rhodesia" and refers to Rhodesia🡕, the former name of a country in southern Africa (1965-1979; now primarily Zimbabwe, historically also including parts of Zambia), which is the origin of this subspecies.
Origin
Orbea caudata subsp. rhodesiaca is native to Zimbabwe, northern Botswana, and Namibia (Caprivi).
Description
Orbea caudata subsp. rhodesiaca is a low-growing succulent that produces many greyish-green, dark green mottled stems with four rounded angles lined with long, soft, spine-like teeth. The branched stems are erect, ascending, or decumbent, and can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) long and up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) thick, excluding teeth. This subspecies has longer teeth than Orbea caudata subsp. caudata. They are spreading or upcurved, measuring up to 0.4 inches (1.5 cm) long.
The flowers are star-shaped, very deeply five-lobed, and appear solitary or in clusters of several near the base of the young stems in late summer or fall. They can reach a diameter of up to 3.6 inches (9 cm). The corolla is creamy-yellow, mottled with brownish-red or purple, with lobes often fringed with paddle-shaped purple hairs.
How to Grow and Care for Orbea caudata subsp. rhodesiaca
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11b: from 25°F (-3.9°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Several species are fairly easy to grow. Others, often those with slightly hairy stems and the more unusual flowers, are more challenging and require careful watering (with some fertilizer) during the growing season and complete withdrawal of water during the winter months. A minimum winter temperature of 10°C (50°F) is acceptable, provided that plants are kept absolutely dry. A heated growing bench or incubator may help delicate plants to get through the colder months. However, many species live under shrubs in their habitat and prefer light shade rather than full sun.
A gritty compost is essential, and clay pots are advisable for the more delicate species. Some growers prefer mineral-only compost to reduce the risk of fungal root attack. A layer of grit on the compost surface prevents moisture from accumulating around the base of the stems.
Keeping Stapelias and their roots free of pests such as mealybugs is the real key to success, as fungal attacks often result from insect-damaged stems.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Stapelia.
Links
- Back to genus Orbea
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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