Carrion plant
The name " carrion plant" is due to the odor emitted by the flowers as a technique of attracting flies in areas where other pollinating insects are scarce. Flowers are intermittently produced in the late summer and fall seasons. The flowers are velvety and smaller in size than those of Stapelia gigantea, they come in various shapes and colors. The stems can be either erect or ascending 9-10 (-30) cm long and up to 3 cm in diameter (usually less than 2 cm). This plant is a very variable species, with many hybrids. Carrion plant is a common name for several plants with foul smelling flowers and may refer to: Stapelia grandiflora, native to South Africa Stapelia gigantea See also edit Carrion flower This page is an index of articles on plant species (or higher taxonomic groups) with the same common name ( vernacular name).
#Carrion plant free#
The plant is native to South Africa, including the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Free State. Stapelia grandiflora sometimes also goes by the name of Stapelia flavirostris. This " carrion plant" nickname can also refer to similar Stapelia species as well as members of related genera, including Stapelia gigantea and Orbea variegata.
![carrion plant carrion plant](https://cdn.diys.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Cactus-Starfish-Plant-3-e1614798448862.jpg)
It is commonly referred to as the carrion plant, starfish flower, giant toad plant, or starfish cactus, although it is not related to cacti at all. Stapelia grandiflora is a species of flowering plant in the genus Stapelia of the family Apocynaceae.
#Carrion plant manual#
Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Best Time to Seeįlowers mid-June to early July, fruits mature July to mid-August.Īdditional Resources Best Identification Referenceįlora of North America Editorial Committee. All other species of Smilax are woody perennials with prickles (FNA 2002). Both species have flat flower peduncles instead of round ones. Smilax pulverulenta has leaf blades with dark green undersides covered with transparent hairs. Their leaf margins are convex instead of concave and the flower petals are larger, 3.5-5 mm. Smilax herbacea and Smilax pulverulenta are the other two herbaceous species of Smilax lacking prickles. This vine can be identified vegetatively with leaf characters but is best seen in flower and/or fruit.
![carrion plant carrion plant](https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/3-carrion-flower-stapelia-sp-dr-keith-wheelerscience-photo-library.jpg)
Best Life Stage for Proper Identification Characteristics needed to ID: stem with leaves and fruit or flowers.
![carrion plant carrion plant](https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/udata/r9ndp23q/green/smilax-lasioneura-common-carrion-flower_0601_172057.jpg)
Best life stage for ID: in fruit or flower. Identifying Characteristicsĭistinguishing characteristics: stems herbaceous, annual, unarmed upper bracts at base of stem gradually changing to foliage leaves, the lowest leaves distinctly smaller and narrower than those above fully developed leaves green on both sides, more or less deltoid-ovate or panduriform, the blade with 3 prominent nerves running into the abruptly bent or twisted tip leaf margins straight or concave pedicels 3-10 (-15) mm long, arising from the axis of foliage leaves tendrils present tepals 1.5-2.5 mm long filaments shorter than to about equaling anthers styles slenderly clavate berries blue to black, with sweet and date-like pulp. The berries are blue to black with a white waxy covering and 4-6 mm in diameter (FNA 2002). The round flower cluster at the top of the peduncle contains 10-30 green flowers with tiny sepals and petals both 1.5-2.5 mm long. The two or three long flower peduncles arise from the base of the leaf and are longer than the leaf petioles and sometimes about as long as the leaf. The larger ones have wider rounded bases with concave sides and are slightly heart-shaped at the petiole. The leaf blades are 5-12 cm long, thin and hairless, green above and whitish below. There are many leaves along the stem and most of them have tendrils at the base that help the plant climb. Identification Comments General Descriptionįalse China-Root is an herbaceous, annual vine that reaches up to 2 meters in height by climbing on the surrounding vegetation.