My pets aren't very snuggly...

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My pets aren't very snuggly...

Postby Pythonodipsas » Sun May 20, 2007 10:27 pm

I love my plants and I am an avid collector of SA succulents. We have such a nice variety and I cant stand the cactus hype! Cactus are cool but Indigenous rule!

My favorite are Stapeliads (Carrion Flowers) belonging to the milkweed family (Asclepiadacae). They are strange and exotic looking and have evolved an interesting way of attracting pollinators.

Please note these plants have no common names and are generally referred to as "Carrion Flowers"

Most have nasty smells to attract flies which are pollinators for this group. The scents range from dead flesh and faeces to old parmesan cheese. Some dont have a smell but have fine hairs on the petals that tremble even in the slightest breeze. They are supposed to resemle maggots and attract flies.

This is especially common in the Caralluma genus.

Here is Caralluma rogersii from the bushveld.
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Note the fine black hairs on the petal edges. Very feint smell.
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Next is Stapelia leendertzia from Northern Natal and TVL.
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It smells like rotting flesh.
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Here is a Stapelia gettleffii from the hot lowveld regions of SA. Majestic!
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Not too much of a smell - I think the hair and color are the main attractor for pollinators.
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This is Orbea variegata from the cape peninsula.
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Here is Stapelia grandiflora. An appropriate name I think! Spot the fly.
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And my favorite from the TVL and northern Natal. Huernia zebrina magniflora.
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I have several other species and will post pictures when they flower.

Thanks for looking.
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Postby Spikelet » Mon May 21, 2007 7:35 am

wow pythonodipsas thats a really awesome collection of stapelias - mine is a collection of aloes with a whole two stapelias ;)

this one of mine finally flowered for the first time this year after being raised from a 15cm cutting over the last 3 years. I was really surprised at how huge the flower was in relation to the little plant whic is still very little as far as I am concerned ...here is the flower - not as striking as yours but super hairy at any rate ;)
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my last stapelia is showing signs of wanting to flower so keeping a close eye on it for some photo oppurtunity however at the moment my aloes are laden with buds :D Now just to stop the children picking them before they open :twisted:

by the way inspired way of putting them into icecream containers - think i might repot mine the same way - very clever!

Can't wait to see the rest of the flowers as they oblige - awesome hobby :D
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Postby Bushbaby » Mon May 21, 2007 8:57 am

Very nice to see your feminine side. lol
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Postby Bushviper » Mon May 21, 2007 2:33 pm

I also have one (lots of stems) of those smelly plants in my garden. I have no idea where it came from but it flowers quite prolifically. I dont stare at it too closely so I have no idea which type it is. If anyone wants some cuttings I can dig up pieces for you.

There are 3 buds which are due to open soon I guess. When they do I will take some pics.
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Postby Spikelet » Mon May 21, 2007 4:39 pm

Me, pick me ;) would love to see the pics of the flowers too :) These are really fascinating little plants :)
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Postby Pythonodipsas » Mon May 21, 2007 7:35 pm

Spikelet, it's nice to know more people interested in SA succulents. I love aloes too - busy raising seedlings from an unidentified type. Do you know what yours stapeliad is? I am not sure, but it looks like one of those famous hybrids between Taveresia barkleyi and ????

BV When I visit you, I will raid your garden... :)

BB - My feminine side? - you should see me in suspenders and high heels when i water my plants. Ha ha - BTW that was a joke! :lol:
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Postby Spikelet » Tue May 22, 2007 8:34 am

Ok Pythonodipsas we will make this our own official indigenous flower thread ;)

I found my photographed and labeled stapelia stalk and its a stapelia nobilis - thank goodness I had some foresight on that one ;)

I would love to see your unidentified aloes - now I am intrigued ... photos?
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Postby Bushbaby » Tue May 22, 2007 9:00 am

BB - My feminine side? - you should see me in suspenders and high heels when i water my plants. Ha ha - BTW that was a joke! :lol:


Pffft only a joke!! How do they say, Many a truth is spoken in jest?
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Postby Pythonodipsas » Tue May 22, 2007 9:36 am

Ok BB - you got me there! Then can I borrow your suspenders please! Or has BV still got them?

Spiklet I will take pics of the adult and baby aloe in question and maybe you can help with the ID.
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Postby Bushbaby » Tue May 22, 2007 9:57 am

BV still has them, but you can use those cool stockings I got last time. hee hee

So when you coming to visit so that I can finally meet you??
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Postby EDDY » Tue May 22, 2007 10:07 am

BB - My feminine side? - you should see me in suspenders and high heels when i water my plants. Ha ha - BTW that was a joke!


They say 75% of a joke is true. now i wonder whats the 75% part.
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Postby Pythonodipsas » Tue May 22, 2007 10:09 am

Well I plan on coming up this year. I must see my sister and her kids in Honeydew. I have lots of friends I wanna see too.

Then us reptile folk can all have a braai and get together. I wanna meet so many of you. On these forums I have hardly met anyone. Only met BV once, about 10 years ago. Kaouthia I have met, Rob too, Gremlin and maybe some others I cant remember now.
`
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Postby neko » Tue May 22, 2007 11:02 am

Gremlin lives up here now, but we still never see her.. I think we saw her more often when she lived down in KZN.

Would be nice to meet you.
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Postby Bushviper » Tue May 22, 2007 1:37 pm

I also have some other succulents which are apparently quite sought after. I have no interest in gardening. When I was a kid I was forced to do the whole gardening thing and today I dont even have a lawn. I also have some cycads you are welcome to. They are small though.

You would have liked the Gautrain search and rescues. We always meet up with the guys from the "Veldblom vereeniging" who take out all the succulents and orchids and some bulbous plant they call a baboon tail or something like that. These guys grab everything they can and then give it to whoever is interested. Next time we can keep some for you or Spikelet.
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Postby Bushbaby » Tue May 22, 2007 1:46 pm

With your permission BV... I'ld like to try the gardening thing. :) If it doesnt work out, you can give everything to whoever wants.
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