Stapeliae
Encyclopedia
The genera
of plants within the tribe Stapeliae are all to varying degrees stem succulents. Many of the species resemble cacti
, though are not closely related, as an example of convergent evolution
. The stems are often angular, mostly four-angled in cross-section, but in some species there are six or more, with some species of Hoodia
having more than thirty angles. In size they vary from less than 2.5 cm/1" in length to over 2 m/6" tall. The leaves are in most species reduced to rudiments, sometimes hardened and thorn-like, arranged on bumps or tubercles on the angles. Some species, however, still have recognisable leaves, most notably the Indian species Frerea indica, and some members of Tridentea
. Stapeliads are most abundant in warm, dry climates. In Africa, there are two separate regions where Stapeliads have most diversified: northeast Africa
, and Southern Africa
. Several species are endemic to the small island of Socotra
off the Horn of Africa
. The Arabian Peninsula
, and most specifically the country of Yemen
, contain another concentration of species. Several more are found in the drier parts of Pakistan
, Afghanistan
, India
, Nepal
, and Myanmar
. A single species, Caralluma europea
is found in Europe
, in the very southern part of the Iberian
peninsula. Stapeliads are often regarded as a climax group within the family because of their often structurally complex flower
s. Certain aspects of these reproductive parts mirror the pollination
systems in the Orchid family and represent a case of parallel evolution
though both groups are quite unrelated and have developed similar, though not identical means to achieve the ultimate goal of pollination and therefore reproduction. Most stapeliads use flies as pollinators, that are attracted to odours resembling dung or rotting meat, emanating from the flowers. Many of the flowers also bear some physical resemblance to rotting animal carcasses, leading to their popular name of Carrion Flowers. However, not all stapeliads smell bad, or attract flies. Some species use beetles, bees, wasps, butterflies or moths
as pollinators. Stapeliad flowers range in size from mere millimetres in species of Echidnopsis and Pseudolithos to those of Stapelia gigantea
that can reach 40 cm/16" in diameter, and are some the largest of flowers to be found on any species of succulent.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of plants within the tribe Stapeliae are all to varying degrees stem succulents. Many of the species resemble cacti
Cacti
-See also:* RRDtool The underlying software upon which Cacti is built* MRTG The original Multi Router Traffic Grapher from which RRDtool was "extracted".* Munin -External links:******...
, though are not closely related, as an example of convergent evolution
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
. The stems are often angular, mostly four-angled in cross-section, but in some species there are six or more, with some species of Hoodia
Hoodia
Hoodia is a genus of 13 species in the flowering plant family Apocynaceae, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. They are stem succulents, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus family...
having more than thirty angles. In size they vary from less than 2.5 cm/1" in length to over 2 m/6" tall. The leaves are in most species reduced to rudiments, sometimes hardened and thorn-like, arranged on bumps or tubercles on the angles. Some species, however, still have recognisable leaves, most notably the Indian species Frerea indica, and some members of Tridentea
Tridentea
Tridentea is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Tridentea pachyrrhiza, L.C.Leach...
. Stapeliads are most abundant in warm, dry climates. In Africa, there are two separate regions where Stapeliads have most diversified: northeast Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. Several species are endemic to the small island of Socotra
Socotra
Socotra , also spelt Soqotra, is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through...
off the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
. The Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
, and most specifically the country of Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, contain another concentration of species. Several more are found in the drier parts of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, and Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. A single species, Caralluma europea
Caralluma
Caralluma is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, consisting of about 120 species.Once classified in the family Asclepiadaceae, it is now in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. The generic name is derived from the Arabic word qahr al-luhum, meaning "wound in the flesh" or...
is found in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, in the very southern part of the Iberian
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
peninsula. Stapeliads are often regarded as a climax group within the family because of their often structurally complex flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s. Certain aspects of these reproductive parts mirror the pollination
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
systems in the Orchid family and represent a case of parallel evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
though both groups are quite unrelated and have developed similar, though not identical means to achieve the ultimate goal of pollination and therefore reproduction. Most stapeliads use flies as pollinators, that are attracted to odours resembling dung or rotting meat, emanating from the flowers. Many of the flowers also bear some physical resemblance to rotting animal carcasses, leading to their popular name of Carrion Flowers. However, not all stapeliads smell bad, or attract flies. Some species use beetles, bees, wasps, butterflies or moths
Moths
Moths may refer to:* Gustav Moths , German rower* The Moths!, an English indie rock band* MOTHS, members of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats...
as pollinators. Stapeliad flowers range in size from mere millimetres in species of Echidnopsis and Pseudolithos to those of Stapelia gigantea
Stapelia gigantea
Stapelia gigantea is a flowering plant in the Stapelia genus of plants commonly referred to as the Carrion or Toad Plant . Stapelia gigantea sometimes also goes by the name of Stapelia nobilis and Stapelia marlothii....
that can reach 40 cm/16" in diameter, and are some the largest of flowers to be found on any species of succulent.
List of genera
- Angolluma
- CarallumaCarallumaCaralluma is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, consisting of about 120 species.Once classified in the family Asclepiadaceae, it is now in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. The generic name is derived from the Arabic word qahr al-luhum, meaning "wound in the flesh" or...
- Desmidorchis
- DuvaliaDuvaliaStudied by Haw. in Syn. Pl. Succ., 44 .- Albers & Meve, Asclepiadaceae : this genus is valid. Found in South Africa & Tropical Africa. Well defined by disc-like corona and stipitate gynostegium. 17 species recognised. Etymology: for Henri Auguste Duval French physician and botanist. Closely...
- Echidnopsis
- EdithcoleaEdithcoleaEdithcolea is a monotypic genus with a single species Edithcolea grandis . Once classified in the family Asclepiadaceae, it is now in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae of the dogbane family Apocynaceae....
- FrereaFrereaFrerea is a genus which contains only one species, Frerea indica , a small succulent native to the Junnar hill forest in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra state in India. It is also grown as a greenhouse plant by succulent plant enthusiasts...
- HoodiaHoodiaHoodia is a genus of 13 species in the flowering plant family Apocynaceae, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. They are stem succulents, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus family...
- HuerniaHuerniaThe genus Huernia The genus Huernia The genus Huernia (family Asclepiadaceae consists of some (30-)60 species of stem succulents from Eastern and Southern Africa. The flowers are five-lobed, usually somewhat more funnel- or bell-shaped than in the closely related genus Stapelia, and often striped...
- Huerniopsis
- LarryleachiaLarryleachiaLarryleachia is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Larryleachia cactiformis, Plowes* Larryleachia marlothi, Plowes* Larryleachia perlata, Plowes...
- Notechidnopsis
- Orbea
- Orbeopsis
- Piaranthus
- Pachycymbium
- Pectinaria
- Pseudolithos
- Pseudopectinaria
- QuaquaQuaquaThe genus Quaqua falls within the tribe of plants known collectively as stapeliads. All stapeliads, including Quaqua, are old world stem-succulents....
- Rhytidocaulon
- StapeliaStapeliaThe genus Stapelia consists of around 40 species of low growing, spineless, stem succulent plants, predominantly from South Africa. The flowers of certain species, most notably Stapelia gigantea, can reach 41 cm in diameter when fully open...
- Stapelianthus
- Stapeliopsis
- Tavaresia
- TridenteaTridenteaTridentea is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Tridentea pachyrrhiza, L.C.Leach...
- Tromotriche
- Whitesloanea