Publication: Gard. Chron. III, 12: 278 1892.
Description
Caralluma penicillata is a succulent bush, with erect stems, curved downwards when old, up to 1.3-2 m tall and 0.6-1 m in spread. It is an isolated species with relationships to Subgen. Desmidorchis (Gilbert 1990).
Stems: 20-60 mm thick, branching from the base, irregularly branched above, succulent, glabrous, light green or grey-green, with 4 edges plate-like compressed like wings, irregularly toothed, upper part less angular, flowering stems apically tapering and bearing a succession of scars of old inflorescences. Tubercles oblong-triangular, wing-like, obtuse.
Flowers: Small, densely clustered in small inflorescences (umbels) 30-50 together, that are first terminal but later laterally displaced by new growth of the stem apex. Flowers with very weak odour. Pedicells 5-10 mm long, 1-1.5 mm thick, without bracts. Sepals lanceolate, spreading apically blunt. Corolla rotate, with a short tube and flat, c. 9-15 mm wide, lobed more than half-way down, pale yellow-green outside, yellow green, leather-yellow or livid brown inside with sparse to very dense brownish-purple spots, glabrous except for a brush-like tuft of purple, mobile hairs at the end of each lobe, thus the name “paint brush” caralluma. Corolla-lobes ovate-lanceolate, 4 mm long, 2.5-3 mm wide, inside papillate, papillae irregularly rounded, with small bristles. Corona 3.5 mm in diameter, green or (rarely) reddish-brown, with stiff hairs, and covered with nectar. Inner-corona lobes like short teeth, growing out of the outer corona and arching-incumbent on the anthers, apically pubescent, hairs white or light pink. Outer corona very reduced cup-shaped, of 5 pouch-like fused lobes, nearly truncate or very broadly triangular at the upper edge, very thinly covered with short hairs all over.
Fruits (follicles): Paired, 5.5-7 cm long.
Origin and Habitat
Somalia, sudan Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman).
Altitude range: 800–1800 metres above sea level.
Cultivation and Propagation
Caralluma penicillata is relatively easy to grow. It needs regular watering, especially during the hottest summer days; provide also some light watering if the green house temperatures in winter are elevated. Either excessive or very scarce watering can induce rot.
Frost Tolerance: Winter temperatures must be kept over 10° C. But it can withstand winter night-time temperatures down to about 5°(or less) Celsius for short period. Freezing temperatures are fatal.
Sun Exposure: Full sun to half sun. It has a great advantage if grown in very strong light, but sheltered from full sun.
Cultural Practices: Provide very good ventilation. It grows quite easily and fast on its own roots. It is not difficult as commonly supposed.
Warnings: Caralluma penicillata proved to be highly toxic: sheep died from grazing on it.
Propagation: Seeds and cuttings.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Alain Campbell White, Boyd L. Sloane “The Stapelieae”, Volume 1, Typography and printing by S. E. Haselton at Abbey San Encino Press, 1937
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Desmidorchis penicillata (Defl.) Plowes [family ASCLEPIADACEAE] J. Lavranos et al. In “Flora Somalia”, Vol 3, 2006 [updated by M. Thulin 2008] web http://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.flora.flos002839?searchUri=filter%3Dname%26so%3Dps\_group\_by\_genus\_species%2Basc%26Query%3DCaralluma%2Bpenicillata
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Hans Dieter Neuwinger “African Ethnobotany: Poisons and Drugs : Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology” CRC Press, 1996
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Focke Albers, Ulrich Meve “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Asclepiadaceae: Asclepiadaceae”, Volume 4 Springer Science & Business Media, 2002
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Hermann Jacobsen “A Handbook of Succulent Plants: Descriptions, Synonyms, and Cultural Details for Succulents Other Than Cactaceae”, Volume 1, Blandford Press, 1960
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Werner Rauh “The Wonderful World of Succulents: Cultivation and Description of Selected Succulent Plants Other Than Cacti” Smithsonian Institution Press, 1984