Stapelia gigantea N.E. Brown is commonly called the Zulu-giant, giant toad plant, or carrion-flower. Carrion-flower suits best; the flower is often smelled long before it is noticed. In this instance, I was searching for a dead squirrel or bird when I came upon the flower. (See Renfield's Garden, August 15, 2001)

Stapelia are succulents in the Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed family. The branches are X-shaped in cross-section and determinate, ceasing growth when about 4 to 5 inches in length. The inflorescence arises near the base of a branch between arms of the X; on this plant the inflorescence had two buds with scale-like leaves at the base of the petioles. When this flower opened, the second bud was aborted.

The flowers are entomophilous, pollinated by flies in search of carrion. The flower has two distinct whorls; the inferior ovary (set below the corolla) is surrounded by the calyx (sepals). The corolla has five lobes (uppermost in the photograph laid back over the pot) and is covered with trichomes that resemble fine hairs. The tissue is thick and similar in appearance and texture to skin of a mammal. Actually, it reminded me of the skin of a young pig. The raised dark areas near the center (staminodes?) appear to mimic flies.

Surprisingly, the aroma and texture fools not only flies and humans, but cats too. The garden cats circled the Stapelia with hackles raised. When the spent corolla dropped to the ground, one kindly cat attempted to bury the poor dead thing!