Caralluma hexagona?

[Herts Mike]

I grew this from IAS seed a few years back but it was not what the seed was supposed to be. Now flowering for the first time. I grew hexagona some years ago and whilst the flower is different, the body shape is similar and I believe hexagona very variable. Any comments would be appreciated.

[ralphrmartin]

Looks like a fair assessment to me.

[Pattock]

Pretty unmistakeable. Lovely flowers.

Is this the one you asked about last year?

viewtopic.php?p=307521

Is it hexagonal yet?

[Herts Mike]

That’s the one!

[Colin Walker]

I grew this from IAS seed a few years back but it was not what the seed was supposed to be. Now flowering for the first time. I grew hexagona some years ago and whilst the flower is different, the body shape is similar and I believe hexagona very variable. Any comments would be appreciated.
1E9ABBF2-3729-4C51-9012-610EB4E79F60.jpeg

Mike, the species name looks OK to me and yes indeed, this is a particularly variable species.

As to the genus, well no, it aint a Caralluma any more, but that's what it started off as. But what is it? Well you can take your pick: Monolluma or Sulcolluma.

Or why not be really radical and call it Ceropegia hexagona. Just joking, 'cos I would NEVER label it as that.

But yes indeed, for this sp. there are four valid generic names to choose from.

[Tina]

Do you have a big enough label , I have a similar plant ( not flowered) labeled c.quadrangularis

[Herts Mike]

Kew has it as Monolluma. I shall reluctantly change the label ( must do those Aloes some time...).

[Colin Walker]

Kew has it as Monolluma. I shall reluctantly change the label ( must do those Aloes some time...).

Monolluma hexagona is as good a name as any of the four available.

[Colin Walker]

Do you have a big enough label , I have a similar plant ( not flowered) labeled c.quadrangularis

Caralluma quandrangula should be an altogether different plant tina. It should have thick, erect strongly 4-angled stems (hence its name). I don't think this is at all easy to get to flower and needs to be quiet large to do so.

Its current name, or at least the one I'd use, is Desmidorchis quadrangula. It's an Arabian sp. So this is only distantly related to Mike's Monolluma hexagona which is a much smaller-growing plant.

FYI Caralluma used to be the largest genus of stapeliads with 100+ spp. Now its restricted to about 20 spp. which have squarish angular stems that elongate on flowering to produce a whispy sort of spike. Some of the flowers are rather spidery in appearance and indeed one is named Caralluma arachnoidea. After flowering, which is terminal, the spike dies down and the stem branches from the base. Most spp. come from India but there are a few in tropical E. Africa too.