Apocynaceae
Stapelia

Stapelia gigantea N.E.Br.

First published in Gard. Chron., n.s., 7: 684 (1877)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Tropical & S. Africa. It is a succulent subshrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit
Compact, dense clump-forming stem-succulents.
Morphology Stem
Stems 12–25(–30) cm long, 2–3 cm wide, sharply 4-angled with compressed faces. Tubercles inconspicuous
Morphology Leaves
Leaf rudiments deltoid, 2–3 mm long, acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 1–4-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers strongly carrion-scented; peduncle stout, up to 1 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels 3–6 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals ovate, 10–16 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla rotate, 15–40 cm diameter, abaxially minutely pubescent, adaxially yellowish to pale reddish, transversely rugolose, wrinkles redbrown or purple, covered by fine, whitish to reddish hairs up to 12 mm long; tube flat to slightly campanulate, 3–10 cm diameter; lobes spreading, ovate to triangular, 8–15 cm long, caudate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Gynostegial corona purple, usually atop a short, yellow stipe; interstaminal corona lobes erect-diverging, rectangular, occasionally spatulate, 5–6 × 1.5–2.5 mm, apically crenate, with or without mucro; staminal corona lobes erect, 8–12 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, with central subulate and dorsal broadly winged appendages
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Mericarps erect, two, 9–13 cm long, fusiform
Figures
Fig. 85, p 357
[FTEA]

Goyder, D. J., Gilbert, M. G. & Venter, H. J. T. (2020). Apocynaceae (part 2). In: M. A. García (ed.), Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 7(3). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Type
South Africa, Natal, Gerrard 717 (K holotype).
Morphology General Habit
Compact, dense clump-forming stem-succulent
Morphology Stem
Stems erect, 10–30 cm long, 1–3.5 cm wide, 4-angled with broadly concave faces
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Tubercles inconspicuous
Morphology Leaves
Leaf rudiments 2–3 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences 1–4-flowered arising near the base of the stems; peduncle stout
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels 3–6 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals ovate, 10–16 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla rotate, 12.5–40 cm in diam., yellowish to pale reddish, transversely rugulose, wrinkles red-brown or purple, covered by fine, whitish to reddish hairs up to 12 mm long; corolla tube flat to slightly campanulate, 3–10 cm in diam.; corolla lobes spreading, ovate to triangular, 8–15 cm long, attenuate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynostegium
Gynostegial corona purple, usually atop a short, yellow stipe; interstaminal corona lobes rectangular, occasionally spathulate, 5–6 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, erect-diverging, apically crenate, with or without mucro; staminal corona lobes 8–12 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, erect, with central subulate and dorsal broadly winged appendages.
Distribution
Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. Also occurs in South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho.
Ecology
Occasionally naturalised elsewhere. Frequently on rock, but also recorded from sandy or alluvial soils. 0–1200 m.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Art and Illustrations in Digifolia

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images