![]() ![]() FAQ Starfish Cactus Main Characteristics Common Name Carrion Flower, Carrion Cactus, Toad Cactus, Starfish Cactus Botanical Name Orbea variegata Synonyms Stapelia variegata Stisseria variegata Family Apocynaceae Genus Orbea Type Flowering Succulent Native Range South Africa (Western Cape) USDA Hardiness Zones 9a to 11b Mature Size Height: up to 10 inches Spread: up to 4 inches Bloom Time Late Summer, Autumn Foliage Evergreen Propagation methods by seeds, by cutting Sun Full sun to Part shade Soil Well-drained Toxicity Non-Toxic Starfish Cactus Care.The Easiest Way To Take Care Of A Starfish Cactus (Orbea variegata) (Video).However, it was later found out that all these variations exist within the same species, Orbea variegata. In fact, when the plant was first discovered, it was thought that there were many different species with similar appearances. ![]() The buzzing of flies that circle a pollinating flower is similar to how insects are attracted to carrion, which is why it is also called Carrion Flower or Carrion Cactus. The intense smell attracts insects for pollination. That’s why it’s never recommended to grow these plants in an enclosed space a patio or deck is a safe choice. The flowers look amazing on their own, but they produce a horrid smell that stinks up a room quite thoroughly. The plant is named for its star-shaped flowers, which are usually yellow, and densely dotted with brown spots. It is not a cactus, despite its common name. Starfish Cactus, also known as Orbea variegata, is a succulent plant native to Mexico and Central America. "Impact of two invasive succulents on native-seedling recruitment in Neotropical arid environments". ^ Herrera, Ileana Ferrer-Paris, José R.^ "RHS Plant Selector - Stapelia gigantea"."Convergent evolution of carrion and faecal scent mimicry in fly-pollinated angiosperm flowers and a stinkhorn fungus". ^ Corley, David Gregory Miller, James (Mar 7, 2006), Plant derived or derivable material with appetite suppressing activity, retrieved.Carrion Ecology, Evolution, and Their Applications. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants.Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). gigantea can become an invasive plant when introduced in arid and semi-arid environments, although it has been found to facilitate the recruitment of nurse-dependent native taxa, those that require a suitable microhabitat created by another plant for successful germination, growth, and/or survival from impacts such as herbivory. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Since it does not tolerate temperatures below 10 ☌ (50 ☏) for extended periods, this plant must be grown under glass in temperate zones. The large size and color of the flowers combined with the carrion smell may cause the flies to behave as if it is a dead carcass and be more likely to visit it. First, it is possible that they are large to attract the flies that pollinate them. There have been several proposed reasons for the size of the flowers of S. gigantea. Because of the foul odor of its flower, S. gigantea can act as an appetite suppressant in humans. Scent compounds of carrion flowers responsible for their odour include diamines ( putrescine and cadaverine), sulfur compounds and various phenolic molecules. ![]() The flowers have the smell of rotting flesh, in order to attract the flies which pollinate them. They bloom in autumn, triggered by the shorter daylight hours. The flowers are red and yellow, wrinkled, with a silky texture and fringed with hairs, that can be as long as 8 mm (0.3 in). The blooms are large star-shaped five-petalled flowers up to 25 cm (9.8 in) in diameter. Growing up to 20 cm (8 in) tall, it is a clump-forming succulent with erect green stems 3 cm (1.2 in) thick. The plant is native to the desert regions of South Africa to Tanzania. Common names include Zulu giant, carrion plant and toad plant (although the nickname "carrion plant" can also refer to Stapelia grandiflora). Stapelia gigantea is a species of flowering plant in the genus Stapelia of the family Apocynaceae.
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