Stapelia sp.
A stamp issued by IFNI in 1954
I have a couple of photos of this plant which once graced our balcony. The first photo, which must have been taken before 1995, was when the Stapelia grew very happily in a pot.
The second photo, 1997, the plant growing in the built in trough on the balcony of our current home, still looking quite happy. Unfortunately this plant and its offspring all died, they probably got too much water.
I found the following information stored on my computer
Stapelia variegata [ Star flower ]
Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Page 476
Clump - forming, branching, perennial succulent, with four - angled, indented stems. Flowers, variable in colour and blotched yellow, purple - or red - brown,
Appear in summer - autumn.
Height to 10 cms.
Spread indefinite
Minimum 11 C
Prefers partial shade.
Prefers well drained soil.
I got my first cutting from a friend who had a huge one on her back terrace.
Looking through the excellent index of THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN on the website I came across Stapelia, great just what I need.
In TMG issue number 17, Summer 1999 Irene Shepard writes in her article,
A PLANT COLLECTOR, about John Lavranos and his plant collecting adventures.