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Stapelia
variegata- Starfish Cactus (Asclepiadaceae)
These milkweeds of southern Africa closely resemble cacti,
but are, of course, entirely unrelated. The stems are thick and
succulent for water storage and the leaves are small, if present.
The large purple-mottled flowers are solitary or several together
along stems. The flowers are very ill-scented and attract carrion
beetles or flies. In summer these often have flies on the flowers
and sometimes eggs are laid and maggots develop.
The flower provides an excellent example of a fly pollinated
flower-hairy, purple-blotched, and smelling like decayed meat
(or old arm-pits).
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