Publication: J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 8: 10 1865.
Description
The most notable characteristic of this plant is that the stems bear succulent leaves (Oddest is that unique Caralluma-with-leaves, one of the few at all common in cultivation )
Stems: Thick , succulent, creeping, cylindrical from small roundish root-tuber, ascending or growing as a ground cover, sbrubbily branched, approx 10 (15) cm long, green, tinged whitish, terete or indistinctly 4-angled, fleshy.
Leaves: Produces seasonal leaves , only produced in the wet season, deciduous in the dry season. Leaves are succulent ± 2.5 x 1 cm., oblong, obtuse or subacute, fleshy, subsessile.
Flowers: Solitary or in pairs, star-shaped, with short lobes, dark red striped with yellow, hairy on the margin.
Origin and Habitat
North-western India (Poona, Maharashtra)
Habitat: Grows in large flattish patches on bare rock hillside, at an altitude of 1000 metres.
Cultivation and Propagation
It is a relatively quick-growing species and not as difficult to cultivate as was originally thought. It can stand drought for quite a period, which is the only time when it loose its leaves. Keep dry in Winter. Water a little more than other succulents in Summer.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
- Focke Albers, Ulrich Meve “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Asclepiadaceae: Asclepiadaceae” Volume 4 Springer Science & Business Media, 2002
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