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Stapelia gigantea

N.E.Br. (1877)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Gentianales Family: Apocynaceae Genus: Stapelia

carrion flower, giant toad plant, zulu giant

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Succulent herb.

Stems: Stems erect or decumbent, 10–20 cm long, softly pubescent.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves reduced or absent. Sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers 1–2 in clusters near the base or middle of young branches, pedicels ca. 2.5 cm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx of 5 sepals. Corolla campanulate with lobes 7–10.3 cm long, more pubescent than S. gigantea with similar long purple hairs. Stamens 5, Corona of 2 whorls, the outer whorl of 5 lobes, these entire or divided, the inner whorl also of 5 lobes these simple, divided, or 2–horned and with a dorsal wing or crest; corona purplish brown. Ovary superior.

Fruit: Fruit of 2 follicles. Seeds comose.

Ploidy: 2n = 22

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Potentially naturalizing
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Potentially naturalizing
Kaho'olawe Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Wind

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Gard. Chron., n.s., 7: 684 (1877)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:241 (O [as S. gigantea, S. nobilis]); Oppenheimer et al. 1999:7 (WM); Staples & Herbst 2005:140 (KEY), 144 (DESCR, Syn. S. nobilis = S. gigantea); Wysong et al. 2007:2 (Mo); Oppenheimer 2010:33 (EM); Parker & Parsons 2012a:57 (H); Starr & Starr 2017:3 (Ka); Oppenheimer & Bogner 2019:21 (L); Brock et al. 2023:112 (K)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Stapelia gigantea Halfway up north facing slope of Polihale ridge in Hikimoe Valley Unspecified Kelsey Brock 859 Kauai HAPI 7/10/2016
2 Stapelia gigantea Ka`a, near road to Ka`ena Preserved_Specimen Locally common area. Oppenheimer, H.L. 41807 Lanai BISH 2018-04-19
3 Stapelia gigantea Halfway up north facing slope of Polihale ridge in Hikimoe Valley Unspecified Kelsey Brock 859 Kauai HAPI 7/10/2016
4 Stapelia gigantea Palaueaahupuaa open, sunny, aa, degrated dry forest Preserved_Specimen succulents; flower foetid, rotate, yellow with dark lines Oppenheimer, H.L. 60804 Maui BISH 2008-06-17
5 Stapelia gigantea Kalaupapa; peninsula, old baseball field behind heli LZ Preserved_Specimen succulent cactus like; erect stems Wysong, M.L. 537 Molokai BISH 2004-12-09
6 Stapelia gigantea Manana, Oahu S wall of east slope Preserved_Specimen Rare to occasional. A few patches cascading down south wall of east slope. Starr, F. 5022511 Oahu BISH 2005-02-25
7 Stapelia gigantea 99-1866 Pukeawe Cir, Volcano, HI, US HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Unknown; Correction: N/A; Comment: Maui Invasive Species Committee Oahu HAPI 2/2/2003
8 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head, crest line over main tunnel entrance, near FCC installation; elev. ca. 400 ft. (122 m) Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5309 Oahu BISH 1984-03-01
9 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen Bianchi, F. Oahu BISH 1986-10-20
10 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu, Mapu Lane Preserved_Specimen Stems thick, angled, ~4 long, erect. Flower creamy yellow, with rose-pink interrupted concentric lines, dish shaped, top covered with fine silky hairs, long white along edges, rosy within; corona dark purple; calyx green, 5-parted. Coker, A.H. Oahu BISH 1953-09-11
11 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen Bianchi, F.A. Oahu BISH 1986-10-01
12 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu: Makapuu Head, along access road from near Kalanianaole Hwy to summit at Makapuu Pt Extensive patches all over hillside. At summit, grows well down seaward cliff face. Populations of Aloe vera, Sansevieria trifasciata, and persistent Agave along road. Preserved_Specimen Flowers 6-8 diam., tawny with moroon hairs in lines, crown deep maroon; smell foul. Fruits erect, paired follicles, fusiform, 4-5 long, unripe. Staples, G.W. 1152 Oahu BISH 1997-12-07
13 Stapelia gigantea West of Waiakuilani Gulch, north of Na Puu Kalua [sp?] In goat ravaged, rocky, sunny area. Preserved_Specimen Succulent, upright, winged herbs: in scatted clumps, locally common in habitat. Oppenheimer, H.L. 80905 Molokai BISH 2009-08-04
14 Stapelia gigantea Waimea District. Dry rock and crumbling dirt slope in first drainage past the end of the Polihale beach. Weedy, dry hillside. W/Myoporum sandwicense, Lantana camara, Prosopis pallida, Doryopteris dicipiens. Preserved_Specimen Spreading cactus-like plant, dark green four-sided succulent cladophylls with dusky pink tips; apparently spreading rhizomatously; pinkish purple flower stalks emerging from base of stem near ground-some with persistent dry flowers, some with immature fruits. Deans, S.M. 23 Kauai BISH 2016-01-25
15 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu, 4550 Kalanianaole Hwy rocky Preserved_Specimen Cactus-like herb; flowers hairy, yellowish with purple/brown lines Teraoka, W. 156 Oahu BISH 1979-11-03
16 Stapelia gigantea W Maui, between peaks of Koai and 'Ulaula, W of Ukumehame Valley Lowland dry shrubland, from an arid ridge. Preserved_Specimen Population covers approx. 5000 square meters. Oppenheimer, H.L. 304 Maui BISH 1998-04-25
17 Stapelia gigantea Makapuu Pt State Wayside Park; rd to Makapuu Pt Disturbed coastal dry mixed community. Preserved_Specimen perennial to 20cm; flowers pink w. red pubesence. Annable, C.R. 3123 Oahu BISH 1996-11-07
18 Stapelia gigantea Kaimuki garden Preserved_Specimen Stem prostrate, branching, angulate; flowers with thick, light-yellow lobes, transverse interrupted, branched, reddish purple lines, soft hairy; corona dark red-purple; pedicel round Zimmerman, E.C. Oahu BISH 1942-10-01
19 Stapelia gigantea Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range Growing along roadside Preserved_Specimen Dense groundcover succulent. BISH staff 21 Oahu BISH 2021-04-30
20 Stapelia gigantea Upper Hakioawa, South Hakioawa Trail. Few patches scattered along upper part of trail, with Prosopis pallida, Cenchrus ciliaris, and Lantana camara. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized. Lowland scrub Starr, F. 15121306 Kahoolawe BISH 2015-12-13
21 Stapelia gigantea Waimea rim, just past roadside on rocky outcropping. Dry scrub Gravillea robusta, Leucaena leucocephala, Neonotonia wightii, Syzygium cumini, Dodonaea viscosa, Megathyrsus maximus, Heteropogon contortus, Doryopteris decora, Richardia brasiliensis, Melinis repens Preserved_Specimen KPEPP 10302002 kauai BISH 2020-10-30
22 Stapelia gigantea Kuliouou-Keawaawa Ridge, Koolau Range dry thicket Preserved_Specimen clump 1 m. diam. St.John, H. 26909 Oahu BISH 1978-05-14
23 Stapelia gigantea Sea View Estates, North Kona Distr Large population on corner of vacant lot. Associates: Leucaena leucocephala, Panicum maximum, Portulaca sp. Preserved_Specimen Stems 6-12 inches high, large fls smelling of carrrion with maggots inside. Parker, J. 84 Hawaii BISH 2009-06-16
24 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu District: Koko Head Preserved_Specimen flowers in rainy season Bruegmann, M.M. 137 Oahu BISH 1985-01-26
25 Stapelia gigantea Halfway up north facing slope of Polihale ridge in Hikimoe Valley Unspecified Kelsey Brock 859 Kauai HAPI 7/10/2016
26 Stapelia gigantea Ka`a, near road to Ka`ena Preserved_Specimen Locally common area. Oppenheimer, H.L. 41807 Lanai BISH 2018-04-19
27 Stapelia gigantea Halfway up north facing slope of Polihale ridge in Hikimoe Valley Unspecified Kelsey Brock 859 Kauai HAPI 7/10/2016
28 Stapelia gigantea Palaueaahupuaa open, sunny, aa, degrated dry forest Preserved_Specimen succulents; flower foetid, rotate, yellow with dark lines Oppenheimer, H.L. 60804 Maui BISH 2008-06-17
29 Stapelia gigantea Kalaupapa; peninsula, old baseball field behind heli LZ Preserved_Specimen succulent cactus like; erect stems Wysong, M.L. 537 Molokai BISH 2004-12-09
30 Stapelia gigantea Manana, Oahu S wall of east slope Preserved_Specimen Rare to occasional. A few patches cascading down south wall of east slope. Starr, F. 5022511 Oahu BISH 2005-02-25
31 Stapelia gigantea 99-1866 Pukeawe Cir, Volcano, HI, US HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Unknown; Correction: N/A; Comment: Maui Invasive Species Committee Oahu HAPI 2/2/2003
32 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head, crest line over main tunnel entrance, near FCC installation; elev. ca. 400 ft. (122 m) Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5309 Oahu BISH 1984-03-01
33 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen Bianchi, F. Oahu BISH 1986-10-20
34 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu, Mapu Lane Preserved_Specimen Stems thick, angled, ~4 long, erect. Flower creamy yellow, with rose-pink interrupted concentric lines, dish shaped, top covered with fine silky hairs, long white along edges, rosy within; corona dark purple; calyx green, 5-parted. Coker, A.H. Oahu BISH 1953-09-11
35 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen Bianchi, F.A. Oahu BISH 1986-10-01
36 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu: Makapuu Head, along access road from near Kalanianaole Hwy to summit at Makapuu Pt Extensive patches all over hillside. At summit, grows well down seaward cliff face. Populations of Aloe vera, Sansevieria trifasciata, and persistent Agave along road. Preserved_Specimen Flowers 6-8 diam., tawny with moroon hairs in lines, crown deep maroon; smell foul. Fruits erect, paired follicles, fusiform, 4-5 long, unripe. Staples, G.W. 1152 Oahu BISH 1997-12-07
37 Stapelia gigantea West of Waiakuilani Gulch, north of Na Puu Kalua [sp?] In goat ravaged, rocky, sunny area. Preserved_Specimen Succulent, upright, winged herbs: in scatted clumps, locally common in habitat. Oppenheimer, H.L. 80905 Molokai BISH 2009-08-04
38 Stapelia gigantea Waimea District. Dry rock and crumbling dirt slope in first drainage past the end of the Polihale beach. Weedy, dry hillside. W/Myoporum sandwicense, Lantana camara, Prosopis pallida, Doryopteris dicipiens. Preserved_Specimen Spreading cactus-like plant, dark green four-sided succulent cladophylls with dusky pink tips; apparently spreading rhizomatously; pinkish purple flower stalks emerging from base of stem near ground-some with persistent dry flowers, some with immature fruits. Deans, S.M. 23 Kauai BISH 2016-01-25
39 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu, 4550 Kalanianaole Hwy rocky Preserved_Specimen Cactus-like herb; flowers hairy, yellowish with purple/brown lines Teraoka, W. 156 Oahu BISH 1979-11-03
40 Stapelia gigantea W Maui, between peaks of Koai and 'Ulaula, W of Ukumehame Valley Lowland dry shrubland, from an arid ridge. Preserved_Specimen Population covers approx. 5000 square meters. Oppenheimer, H.L. 304 Maui BISH 1998-04-25
41 Stapelia gigantea Makapuu Pt State Wayside Park; rd to Makapuu Pt Disturbed coastal dry mixed community. Preserved_Specimen perennial to 20cm; flowers pink w. red pubesence. Annable, C.R. 3123 Oahu BISH 1996-11-07
42 Stapelia gigantea Kaimuki garden Preserved_Specimen Stem prostrate, branching, angulate; flowers with thick, light-yellow lobes, transverse interrupted, branched, reddish purple lines, soft hairy; corona dark red-purple; pedicel round Zimmerman, E.C. Oahu BISH 1942-10-01
43 Stapelia gigantea Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range Growing along roadside Preserved_Specimen Dense groundcover succulent. BISH staff 21 Oahu BISH 2021-04-30
44 Stapelia gigantea Upper Hakioawa, South Hakioawa Trail. Few patches scattered along upper part of trail, with Prosopis pallida, Cenchrus ciliaris, and Lantana camara. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized. Lowland scrub Starr, F. 15121306 Kahoolawe BISH 2015-12-13
45 Stapelia gigantea Waimea rim, just past roadside on rocky outcropping. Dry scrub Gravillea robusta, Leucaena leucocephala, Neonotonia wightii, Syzygium cumini, Dodonaea viscosa, Megathyrsus maximus, Heteropogon contortus, Doryopteris decora, Richardia brasiliensis, Melinis repens Preserved_Specimen KPEPP 10302002 kauai BISH 2020-10-30
46 Stapelia gigantea Kuliouou-Keawaawa Ridge, Koolau Range dry thicket Preserved_Specimen clump 1 m. diam. St.John, H. 26909 Oahu BISH 1978-05-14
47 Stapelia gigantea Sea View Estates, North Kona Distr Large population on corner of vacant lot. Associates: Leucaena leucocephala, Panicum maximum, Portulaca sp. Preserved_Specimen Stems 6-12 inches high, large fls smelling of carrrion with maggots inside. Parker, J. 84 Hawaii BISH 2009-06-16
48 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu District: Koko Head Preserved_Specimen flowers in rainy season Bruegmann, M.M. 137 Oahu BISH 1985-01-26
49 Stapelia gigantea Halfway up north facing slope of Polihale ridge in Hikimoe Valley Unspecified Kelsey Brock 859 Kauai HAPI 7/10/2016
50 Stapelia gigantea Ka`a, near road to Ka`ena Preserved_Specimen Locally common area. Oppenheimer, H.L. 41807 Lanai BISH 2018-04-19
51 Stapelia gigantea Halfway up north facing slope of Polihale ridge in Hikimoe Valley Unspecified Kelsey Brock 859 Kauai HAPI 7/10/2016
52 Stapelia gigantea Palaueaahupuaa open, sunny, aa, degrated dry forest Preserved_Specimen succulents; flower foetid, rotate, yellow with dark lines Oppenheimer, H.L. 60804 Maui BISH 2008-06-17
53 Stapelia gigantea Kalaupapa; peninsula, old baseball field behind heli LZ Preserved_Specimen succulent cactus like; erect stems Wysong, M.L. 537 Molokai BISH 2004-12-09
54 Stapelia gigantea Manana, Oahu S wall of east slope Preserved_Specimen Rare to occasional. A few patches cascading down south wall of east slope. Starr, F. 5022511 Oahu BISH 2005-02-25
55 Stapelia gigantea 99-1866 Pukeawe Cir, Volcano, HI, US HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Unknown; Correction: N/A; Comment: Maui Invasive Species Committee Oahu HAPI 2/2/2003
56 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head, crest line over main tunnel entrance, near FCC installation; elev. ca. 400 ft. (122 m) Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5309 Oahu BISH 1984-03-01
57 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen Bianchi, F. Oahu BISH 1986-10-20
58 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu, Mapu Lane Preserved_Specimen Stems thick, angled, ~4 long, erect. Flower creamy yellow, with rose-pink interrupted concentric lines, dish shaped, top covered with fine silky hairs, long white along edges, rosy within; corona dark purple; calyx green, 5-parted. Coker, A.H. Oahu BISH 1953-09-11
59 Stapelia gigantea Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen Bianchi, F.A. Oahu BISH 1986-10-01
60 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu: Makapuu Head, along access road from near Kalanianaole Hwy to summit at Makapuu Pt Extensive patches all over hillside. At summit, grows well down seaward cliff face. Populations of Aloe vera, Sansevieria trifasciata, and persistent Agave along road. Preserved_Specimen Flowers 6-8 diam., tawny with moroon hairs in lines, crown deep maroon; smell foul. Fruits erect, paired follicles, fusiform, 4-5 long, unripe. Staples, G.W. 1152 Oahu BISH 1997-12-07
61 Stapelia gigantea West of Waiakuilani Gulch, north of Na Puu Kalua [sp?] In goat ravaged, rocky, sunny area. Preserved_Specimen Succulent, upright, winged herbs: in scatted clumps, locally common in habitat. Oppenheimer, H.L. 80905 Molokai BISH 2009-08-04
62 Stapelia gigantea Waimea District. Dry rock and crumbling dirt slope in first drainage past the end of the Polihale beach. Weedy, dry hillside. W/Myoporum sandwicense, Lantana camara, Prosopis pallida, Doryopteris dicipiens. Preserved_Specimen Spreading cactus-like plant, dark green four-sided succulent cladophylls with dusky pink tips; apparently spreading rhizomatously; pinkish purple flower stalks emerging from base of stem near ground-some with persistent dry flowers, some with immature fruits. Deans, S.M. 23 Kauai BISH 2016-01-25
63 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu, 4550 Kalanianaole Hwy rocky Preserved_Specimen Cactus-like herb; flowers hairy, yellowish with purple/brown lines Teraoka, W. 156 Oahu BISH 1979-11-03
64 Stapelia gigantea W Maui, between peaks of Koai and 'Ulaula, W of Ukumehame Valley Lowland dry shrubland, from an arid ridge. Preserved_Specimen Population covers approx. 5000 square meters. Oppenheimer, H.L. 304 Maui BISH 1998-04-25
65 Stapelia gigantea Makapuu Pt State Wayside Park; rd to Makapuu Pt Disturbed coastal dry mixed community. Preserved_Specimen perennial to 20cm; flowers pink w. red pubesence. Annable, C.R. 3123 Oahu BISH 1996-11-07
66 Stapelia gigantea Kaimuki garden Preserved_Specimen Stem prostrate, branching, angulate; flowers with thick, light-yellow lobes, transverse interrupted, branched, reddish purple lines, soft hairy; corona dark red-purple; pedicel round Zimmerman, E.C. Oahu BISH 1942-10-01
67 Stapelia gigantea Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range Growing along roadside Preserved_Specimen Dense groundcover succulent. BISH staff 21 Oahu BISH 2021-04-30
68 Stapelia gigantea Upper Hakioawa, South Hakioawa Trail. Few patches scattered along upper part of trail, with Prosopis pallida, Cenchrus ciliaris, and Lantana camara. Preserved_Specimen Naturalized. Lowland scrub Starr, F. 15121306 Kahoolawe BISH 2015-12-13
69 Stapelia gigantea Waimea rim, just past roadside on rocky outcropping. Dry scrub Gravillea robusta, Leucaena leucocephala, Neonotonia wightii, Syzygium cumini, Dodonaea viscosa, Megathyrsus maximus, Heteropogon contortus, Doryopteris decora, Richardia brasiliensis, Melinis repens Preserved_Specimen KPEPP 10302002 kauai BISH 2020-10-30
70 Stapelia gigantea Kuliouou-Keawaawa Ridge, Koolau Range dry thicket Preserved_Specimen clump 1 m. diam. St.John, H. 26909 Oahu BISH 1978-05-14
71 Stapelia gigantea Sea View Estates, North Kona Distr Large population on corner of vacant lot. Associates: Leucaena leucocephala, Panicum maximum, Portulaca sp. Preserved_Specimen Stems 6-12 inches high, large fls smelling of carrrion with maggots inside. Parker, J. 84 Hawaii BISH 2009-06-16
72 Stapelia gigantea Honolulu District: Koko Head Preserved_Specimen flowers in rainy season Bruegmann, M.M. 137 Oahu BISH 1985-01-26
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