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The Caralluma Page

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Caralluma  R. Brown 1810
Name: from the Teluga language (India) name Car-allum for a local plant, C. adscendens

Caralluma wissmannii

The genus Caralluma includes around 100 variable species of stem succulents with clumps of angular fleshy stems, often bearing prominent pointed tubercles (vestigal leaves). Caralluma stems may be recumbent or erect with considerable variation in diameter (0.5 inch to 1.5 inches) between different species. Caralluma is distributed in southern Europe, Africa, Canary Islands, Arabia, India, Ceylon, and Afghanistan.
 
Flowers are five-pointed fleshy stars coloured black, purple, yellow, brown, maroon or red, produced in late Summer or Autumn. blow fly Caralluma flowers have some of the most unpleasant perfumes of any succulent plants, resembling the odour of a decaying animal. This perfume attracts blow flies which are the natural pollinators. Following successful pollination of flowers pairs of seed horns are produced, packed with seeds attached to silky parachutes.
 
Several species of Caralluma have edible stems, and are used in India as vegetables. Their water content is a vauable dietary componment in arid environments. Some species reportedly have appetite suppressant properties. Frerea indica has sometimes been included in Caralluma as C. frerei and is the only stapeliad with leafy stems.
 
Cultivation
is similar to that of other Stapeliads. A gritty, very free-draining compost is suitable, and clay pots help the plants to dry out between watering. The plants grow best in warm sunny conditions. They are very susceptible to stem and root mealy bugs, and damage from these may well initiate fungal attack and rotting of stems. It is as well to take frequent stem cuttings, which may be laid on gritty compost and will then root from their underside. My personal experience is that many members of this genus are difficult to overwinter under cool conditions.

caralluma arachnoidea caralluma arachnoidea

Caralluma arachnoidea (P.R.O. Bally) M.G.Gilbert 1977
 
Native to Kenya.
Photos: Joël Lodé

caralluma burchardii caralluma burchardii

Caralluma burchardii N.E. Brown 1913
 
Native to Fuerteventura.
Photos: Joël Lodé

caralluma dummeri

Caralluma dummeri (N.E. Brown) A.C. White & B. Sloane 1940
Syn. Angolluma dummeri (N.E. Brown) Plowes 1994
 
Native to Kenya.
Photo: Joël Lodé

caralluma europaea

Caralluma europaea (Gussone) N.E. Brown 1892
 
Native to Almeria, Spain.
Photo: Joël Lodé

caralluma gemufogana

Caralluma gemufogana M.G. Gilbert 1978
Syn. Angolluma gemufogana (M.G. Gilbert) Plowes 1994
 
Native to Kenya.
Photo: Joël Lodé

caralluma foulcheri-delboscii

Caralluma hexagona Lavranos 1963
Syn. Caralluma foulcheri-delboscii Lavranos 1967
 
Native to Almeria, Spain.
Photo: Joël Lodé

caralluma frerea

Caralluma frerea Dalzell 1865     See: Frerea indica
 
Native to India.
Photo: Joël Lodé

caralluma munbyana

Caralluma munbyana (Decaisne) N.E. Brown 1892
 
Native to Valencia, Spain.
Photo: Joël Lodé

caralluma plicatiloba caralluma plicatiloba

Caralluma plicatiloba Lavranos 1962
 
Native to Wadi Dahr, Yemen.
Photos: Joël Lodé

caralluma quadrangula caralluma quadrangula

Caralluma quadrangula (Forsskål) N.E. Brown 1892
 
Native to Wadi Dahr, Yemen.
Photos: Joël Lodé

caralluma retroscipiens caralluma retroscipiens

Caralluma retroscipiens (Ehrenberg) N.E. Brown 1892
 
Native to Kenya.
Photos: Joël Lodé

caralluma socotrana caralluma socotrana caralluma socotrana

Caralluma socotrana (Balfour f.) N.E. Brown 1892
 
Native to Socotra.
Photos: Joël Lodé

caralluma speciosa caralluma speciosa

Caralluma speciosa (N.E. Brown) N.E. Brown 1895
 
Native to Kenya.
Photos: Joël Lodé

caralluma wissmannii caralluma wissmannii

Caralluma wissmannii O.Schwartz 1939
Syn. Orbea wissmannii (O.Schwartz) Bruyns 2000
Syn. Angolluma wissmannii (O.Schwarz) Plowes 1994
 
Native to Yemen and Oman.blow fly
Photos: Richard Hodgkiss, cultivated plant.

caralluma wissmannii caralluma wissmannii


 
Caralluma wissmannii Wadi Dahr, Yemen
Photos: Joël Lodé