June 19, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
483 
of April 21st to 23rd, and now his plants were looking very promising 
and growing vigorously, and I am inclined to think that late pruning is 
safer than early pruning.—F. H. G. 
STAPELIAS. 
This is a large genus belonging to the order Asclepiadacese, most of the 
species producing fantastic and brilliantly marked flowers. However, there 
is no denying the fact that at the present time Stapelias are not popular ; 
indeed, very few know them, therefore I consider them worthy of special 
attention. I have always considered the taste for and introduction of 
Orchids to have been one of the reasons for Stapelias going out of fashion, 
which I will endeavour to explain : thus, when Orchids began to be under¬ 
stood, it was found that the smoke-flue-heated stoves did not suit their 
requirements, because living in and drawing their nourishment entirely 
from the moisture of the air, the dry atmosphere generated by the flue was 
not congenial to their wants, and from that time hot-water pipes rapidly 
took their places. Now, if so happens that the atmosphere produced by 
the smoke-flue is the most congenial to the plants under consideration, or 
at least I have never seen them growing in such perfection under any other 
conditions. Stapelias, however, have another defect; and that is, instead 
of yielding a fragrant perfume, or being altogether scentless, they give off 
a very offensive odour, but if grown upon shelves in the house this becomes 
less perceptible. They must not be considered stove, but rather warm 
greenhouse plants, and as we must perforce again see many of the fine- 
flowering Cactuses in our plant houses, the Stapelias and they will find a 
dry warm corner of the greenhouse set apart for them. 
£ enus was named by Linnaeus in memory of a Dutch physician, one 
Bodaeus Stapel, and to the celebrated and successful collector Masson we 
are indebted for the majority of the species which were introduced towards 
the end of the last and beginning of the present century. Stapelias have 
been sub-divided by Haworth, but for convenience sake we shall here take 
a general view of them. 
Tk ese plants are easily cultivated. Drain well, pot in light sandy loam, 
adding^ sand and old rough brick rubbish. At all times they should be 
carefully, and even sparingly watered, but during the winter months very 
little indeed will suffice. When growing in spring keep them in a close 
greenhouse or the cool end of a dry stove; in summer an ordinary airy 
greenhouse will suit them best, but in autumn a dry warm nook is neces¬ 
sary in order to encourage them to develope their flowers. 
The following is a list of the most distinct species, all of which are 
natives of the Cape of Good Hope, except where otherwise stated. The 
dates following the description indicates the year of introduction. 
S. bicfonia. —A peculiar plant with erect stems, and branches simple, 
obtusely four-angled, as are most of the species. Spines cross-like. Corolla 
flat, with no tube, five-lobed ; lobes spreading, acute. Ground colour yellow, 
spotted all over with lines of brown spots. 1806. 
S. variegata. —This, like the preceding species, belongs to Haworth’s 
sub-genus Orbea. It is a very showy plant^and is well shown in the wood- 
cut (fig. 112). Stems obtusely angled, bearing a few distant spines. The 
flowers are large, the corolla being five-lobed, spreading; lobes ovate- 
accuminate, and the colour is bright yellow, irregularly but profusely 
blotched with cinnamon. 1727. 
S. vetula. —Stems branching, smooth ; teeth rounded. Corolla flat, with 
lobes lanceolate-obtuse. Colour heavy purple, with a few lines of a lighter 
hue. 1800. 
S. pedunculata. —A beautiful free-flowering species, belonging to 
Haworth’s sub-genus Caruncularia. Stems almost cylindrical. Footstalks 
very long and pendulous. The corolla segments are lanceolate with revolute 
margins, the colour being reddish purple, paler at the base, and fringed in 
the angles. Cape of Good Hope. 1784. 
S. sororia. —This is a truly beautiful species, having branches furnished 
with acute incurved teeth and pendulous flowers. The corolla is reflexed, 
oblong-lanceolate, purplish brown, each lobe having a patch of yellow at the 
base, which is transversely barred with reddish purple ; margins of the 
lobes ciliated with long brown hairs. 1797. 
S. Plantii. —Of somewhat recent introduction, bearing out our assertion 
that the colony from which we received it must have many treasures yet to 
yield us. Stemscreeping. Branches erect; angles furnished with short 
incurved spines and short footstalks. The corollas are reflexed 4 to 5 inches 
in diameter ; the lobes ovate-lanceolate, purplish brown, transversely barred 
with irregular lines of light yellow, and having an uninterrupted marginal 
band of chocolate-brown. The margins are fringed with long light-coloured 
hairs. Native of Natal. 1866. 
_ S. grandiflora .—At once a grand and singular flower. The corolla is 4 to 
6 inches in diameter, the lobes lanceolate acute. The centre and nearly the 
whole of the segments are densely clothed with long fine silky hairs of a 
reddish purple hue. The tips of the segments are naked, blackish purple, 
the margins being ciliated with long white hairs. 1795. 
S. Asterias. —The flowers of this species bear a wonderful resemblance to a 
star-fish. The corollas are five-lobed with lanceolate lobes. The margins 
are revolute and ciliate. The colour is deeply purple, transversely streaked 
with irregular waved lines of a paler hue. 1795. 
S. pulvinata. —Stems decumbent. Flowers 4 to 5 inches in diameter, five- 
lobed ; lobes broad, sub-rotund, somewhat wrinkled, acuminate ; the ground 
colour yellow, transversely banded with irregular lines of dull purple. The 
tips of the segments are dull brown, banded the same as the larger portion. 
The margins are densely fringed with purple hairs, the centre of flower 
being profusely clothed with long reddish brown hairs. 1795. 
8. verrucosa .—Stems reclinate. The corolla is flat with recurved segments, 
the colour being yellow spotted with reddish purple ; the centre of the flower 
elevated, warty. It belongs to Haworth’s section Podanthes. 1795. 
S.picta. —A dwarf-growing beautiful species. Flowers on long drooping 
peduncles. Lobes of corolla flat and spreading, ovate-acuminate, slightly 
wrinkled. The ground colour purplish crimson, irregularly marbled with 
yellow. 1799. 
S. revoluta .—This beautiful species belongs to the section Tromotriche, 
Stems erect, very little branched ; teeth blunt and spreading. Flowers on 
short footstalks. Corolla very fleshy ; segments revolute, the margins prettily 
decorated with club-shaped black hairs. The centre of the flower is pale 
yellow, the lobes reddish purple. 1790. 
S. lentiginosa .—Stems five-angled, with swollen spreading tooth-like 
angles furnished with short hook-like spines. The corolla is sub-campanulate. 
five-lobed, with a little point in the centre of the wing between the lobes 
Ground colour of yellowish white irregularly spotted and blotched with 
crimson. 1800. 
S. reticulata .—This is nearly allied to the preceding. Stem five-angled, 
much-toothed ; teeth spreading. Corolla sub-campanulate, having five little 
points between the five lobes, thus almost making the corolla appear to be 
ten-lobed. Colour yellowish white, profusely though irregularly blotched 
with dull purple. 1809. .icuaAa uV 2 roH] 
S. campanulata .—Stems erect; teeth sharp and spreading. The corolla 
funnel-shaped ; limb five-lobed ; segments triangular and acute, with five 
smaller points between the lobes. Ground colour yellowish white, irregu¬ 
larly dotted and spotted with purple. 1809. ™ 
S.glauca .—The stems of this species are glaucous, with a five-lobed revoluie 
Fig. 112.—Stapelia variegata. 
corolla. The lobes are ovate-acute, fringed on the margins with clavate 
hairs, the colour being reddish purple. 1799. 
S. polita .—This is a charming little species belonging to Haworth’s 
section Duvalia. Stems reclinate, six-angled and toothed; angles obtuse, 
furnished with long spreading teeth, with an additional minute one on each 
side at their base. Flowers two to four. Corolla five-lobed ; segments 
ovate-accuminate ; colour brownish purple ; margins furnished near the 
base with long blackish purple hairs. 
S. liystrix .—A beautiful species of recent introduction. The stems are 
freely branched, slightly glaucous, five-angled ; angles obtuse, furnished 
with spreading teeth. Flowers mostly produced in pairs. Corolla spreading 
five-lobed; segments ovate-acuminate, recurved at the points ; ground 
colour pale yellow, transversely banded with short lines of reddish purple ; 
the lobes thickly studded with small erect fleshy points, which are also 
tipped with the same colour. S. E. Africa. 1869.—"\\ . G. T. 
Summary of Weather Observations at Hodsock Triory, 
NEAR WORKSOP, Notts, for May. —Total duration of sunshine in the 
month, 201-2 hours, or 42 per cent, of possible duration ; there were 
five sunless days. Total rainfall, 0 84 inch ; rain fell on ten days. 
Mean temperature of month, 515°. Maximum on the 11th, /DO > 
minimum on the 27tb, 30 - 7° ; maximum in sun on the 11th, 127-1 ; 
