page_title: Stapelia hirsuta
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Stapelia hirsuta / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Stapelia hirsuta in Overberg region
context_page_description: Stapelia hirsuta, common name starfish flower or carrion plant, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Apocynaceae.
context_section_description: Vegetative features
  Stapelia hirsuta stems are subquadrangular in cross-section, about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) high, and 1 centimetre (0.39 in) to 2 centimetres (0.79 in) thick. Concave groves run vertically along the stems, between their four angles. This feature can sometimes help to distinguish S. hirsuta from many other Stapelia species with which it naturally co-occurs (e.g. Stapelia rufa, Stapelia engleriana) that typically have stems which are also subquadrangular, but which are more rounded in cross-section. The surface of S.hirsuta stems are also usually shortly pubescent. Leaf rudiments are 1-2mm long. 
  Populations growing on sandstones can be glabrous stemmed, stemmed with purple mottling.
  Floral features
  Stapelia hirsuta flowers are flat, very hairy, dark-red and resemble rotting meat. Corolla can reach a width of about 5–15 centimetres (2.0–5.9 in). The carrion smell serve to attract various pollinators, especially flies. The flowering period extends from late summer through late autumn.
caption: S.hirsuta flower in habitat in the Overberg region.
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