Scientific Name
Quaqua mammillaris (L.) Bruyns
Common Names
Aroena
Synonyms
Stapelia mammillaris, Boucerosia mammillaris, Caralluma mammillaris, Caralluma winkleri, Caralluma winkleriana, Pectinaria mammillaris, Piaranthus mammillaris
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Asclepiadoideae
Tribe: Ceropegieae
Subtribe: Stapeliinae
Genus: Quaqua
Description
Quaqua mammillaris is a succulent shrub with green branched stems, sometimes mottled with purple-brown. The stems are 4- to 5-angled, sharp-toothed, up to 20 inches (50 cm) long, and up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Flowers are bisexual, brownish-red to black, up to 1.1 inches (2.7 cm) across, and appear in fall. The fruit consists of a pair of follicles.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Stapeliads are relatively easy to grow. They should be treated as an outdoor plant 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. Hence, 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, making sure soil is fairly dried out between waterings. Do not water between November 1 and March 1.
The easiest and best way to propagate Stapeliads is from stem cuttings, which can be taken virtually throughout the year. The seed is also a method of propagation. See more at: How to Grow and Care for Stapeliads.
Origin
Native to Namibia, South Africa (Cape Province).
Links
- Back to genus Quaqua
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
