Stapeliae

Taxobox
name = Stapeliae (Stapeliads)

|thumb
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Gentianales
familia = Apocynaceae
subfamilia = Asclepiadoideae
tribus = Stapeliae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = See text.

The genera of plants within the tribe Stapeliae are all to varying degrees stem succulents. Many of the species resemble cacti, though not being closely related, as an example of convergent evolution. The stems are often angular, mostly four-angled in cross-section, but in some species there are six or more, with some species of "Hoodia" having more than thirty angles. In size they vary from less than 2.5 cm/1" in length to over 2 m/6" tall. The leaves are in most species reduced to rudiments, sometimes hardened and thorn-like, arranged on bumps or tubercles on the angles. Some species, however, still have recognisable leaves, most notably the Indian species "Frerea indica", and some members of "Tridentea". Stapeliads are most abundant in warm, dry climates. In Africa, there are two separate regions where Stapeliads have most diversified: northeast Africa, and Southern Africa. Several species are endemic to the small island of Socotra off the Horn of Africa. The Arabian Peninsula, and most specifically the country of Yemen, contain another concentration of species. Several more are found in the drier parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and Myanmar. A single species, "Caralluma europea" is found in Europe, in the very southern part of the Iberian peninsula. Stapeliads are often regarded as a climax group within the family because of their often structurally complex flowers. Certain aspects of these reproductive parts mirror the pollination systems in the Orchid family and represent a case of parallel evolution though both groups are quite unrelated and have developed similar, though not identical means to achieve the ultimate goal of pollination and therefore reproduction. Most stapeliads use flies as pollinators, that are attracted to odours resembling dung or rotting meat, emanating from the flowers. Many of the flowers also bear some physical resemblance to rotting animal carcasses, leading to their popular name of Carrion Flowers. However, not all stapeliads smell bad, or attract flies. Some species use beetles, bees, wasps, butterflies or moths as pollinators. Stapeliad flowers range in size from mere millimetres in species of "Echidnopsis" and "Pseudolithos" to those of "Stapelia gigantea" that can reach 40 cm/16" in diameter, and are some the largest of flowers to be found on any species of succulent.

List of genera

* "Angolluma"
* "Caralluma"
* "Desmidorchis"
* "Duvalia"
* "Echidnopsis"
* "Edithcolea"
* "Frerea"
* "Hoodia"
* "Huernia"
* "Huerniopsis"
* "Larryleachia"
* "Notechidnopsis"
* "Orbea"
* "Orbeopsis"
* "Piaranthus"
* "Pachycymbium"
* "Pectinaria"
* "Pseudolithos"
* "Pseudopectinaria"
* "Quaqua"
* "Rhytidocaulon"
* "Stapelia"
* "Stapelianthus"
* "Stapeliopsis"
* "Tavaresia"
* "Tridentea"
* "Tromotriche"
* "Whitesloanea"

External links

* [http://www.cactus-mall.com/stapeliad/ Stapeliads: Orchids of the Succulent World]
* [http://anti-matter-3d.com/Stapeliads/ Stapeliads: Hidden Treasures of the Desert]
* [http://old.mendelu.cz/~hanacek/ Flowers of Stapeliads]
* [http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/350348712MCMiSa Photos of mostly South African Stapeliads in habitat and cultivation]
* [http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/153486006UFLBtl Stapeliads and other Asclepiads]

References

cite book
first=Peter V.
last=Bruyns
title=Stapeliads of southern Africa and Madagascar
year=2005
publisher=Umdaus Press
url=http://www.succulents.net/umdaus/stapeliads.html ISBN 1-919766-37-5 and ISBN 1-919766-38-3