Moraceae

Dorstenia barteri var. multiradiata  Hijman & C.C.Berg (Contrayerva)
Named for: C. Barter of 1857 Niger expedition 
A small succulent herb growing 8 - 10 in tall with markedly veined leaves. The roots are rhyzomes up to half an inch thick.
 
The sap of this plant has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties and said to be an antidote to snake bites. Native to the Cameroon and (naturalised in ?) tropical South America including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Paraquay, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Seen growing at RBG Kew.

Dorstenia christenhuszii  M.W. Chase & M.F. Fay 2012
Named for: Maarten J. M. Christenhusz, leader of expedition collecting this species. 
This species has glossy leaves with serrate margins and a shuttlecock shaped inflorescence that may be tinged with purple.
 
Native to the Taita Hills of Kenya.
Seen growing at RBG Kew.

Dorstenia ellenbeckiana  Engler 1902
Named for: D. H. Ellenbeck, German physician & plant collector in E. Africa 1900-1901 
The medium-sized 3 - 4 in caudex produces a cluster of deciduous oval leaves with long pinkish petioles, well-defined venation and a variably crinkly margin. The hypanthodium is brick-red.
 
This succulent plant is native to Southern Africa including Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, growing in sandy soils at up to 4000 ft above sea level.
This plant was part of a temporary display at RBG Kew.

Dorstenia foetida  (Forsskål) Schweinfurth 1896
Numerous synonyms including D. crispa var. lancifolia Rendle 1915
Name: Latin foetere to have a bad smell referring to the crushed leaves. 
This variable succulent sub-shrub grows up to 12 ins tall. The greenish basally-swollen stems have petiole scars. Older stems have peeling bark. The stem tips produce a rosette of dark green lanceolate to ovate leaves with undulate margins and prominent veins. The inflorescence is a greyish-green horned hypanthodium comprising many tiny flowers producing pods that open explosively to distribute the seeds.
 
Dorstenia foetida is native to dry bushland and rocky outcrops of East Africa and the Arabian peninsula. In Oman the tubers of Dorstenia foetida are cooked and eaten.
This plant was part of a temporary display at RBG Kew.

Dorstenia gigas  Schweinfurth 1883 (Socotran Fig Tree)
Name: Greek gigas = giant 
This giant among Dorstenias can grow up to 8 ft tall and 2ft in diameter near to its base. In its habitat the succulent pachycaul trunk adopts a more bottle-shaped morphology than in cultivation. During the growth phase, the tips of branches produce rosettes of green oval leaves with deeply indented venation.
 
This succulent plant is endemic to Socotra in the Indian Ocean, growing on cliffs and rocky slopes where it is endangered by goats. Requires constant warmth. Said to be not self-fertile, so two distinct individuals are needed to produce seed.
 
This splendid specimen was part of a temporary display at RBG Kew, photographed in August and January to show hypanthodiums and leaves respectively.

Dorstenia hildebrandtii  Engler 1894  Syn. D. carnulosa
Named for: Dr. Johann M. Hildebrandt (1847 - 1881) German botanist 
The fleshy stems grow up to 2 ft tall with ovate non-succulent leaves. The lower stem can develoip a caudex, but growth habit seems quite variable even within one clone.The green hypanthodiums are produced freely and are very self-fertile.
 
Native to Burundi, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zaire. This plant is undemanding but a bit of a weed as it self-seeds in pots all around. Has the potential to be an invasive species in a warm climate.