This is a stapeliad (in the stapelia family) rather than a stapelia. It's Huernia procumbens and it is blooming this week so I thought I'd toss in a pic. The flower is much smaller than the stapelias pictured above, probably the size of a US quarter or maybe a US fifty-cent piece. I hope you enjoy. Take care, Grant Here is a link that might be useful: Huernia procumbens bloom

Hi, Tracy, I have a stapelia, but I don't know if it is the one you are looking for. I don't know how to post a picture here, but I can email you a picture if you want me to. It grows similar to a rattail cactus and has a small maroon bloom. It is very pretty. I also have hardy cactus that has a very pretty bright orange bloom, it is in bloom now if you want me to send a picture. I am very very interested in getting a trade of your hen & chicks Kalinda and Ruby Heart. If you don't like the plants I have listed here, PLEASE look at my trade list and see if anything there interests you. Kathie

I used the scotch tape metod, they releave more or less like a Dandylion, a tiny parachute the seed on the end about the size of lettuce seeds or smaller. I'ts fun to watch and wait. How long, well again it depends on how dry the air is where it is growing. Watering may also make a difference on how fast the fruit will open. this I don't know. I have very tiny rubber bands which I have alsod use to keep them closed. I have put the plant into a strainer, and then put it into a bag so when they start to open they will fall down into the strainer, which is in the bag or box. You will come up with something that will work for you. Norma

Hi Rosie & any other Asclepiad/Stapeliad lovers, If you really want to see about these amazing plants, pls look up Dr. Jerry Barad, who used to specialize in Asclepiads in general, more particularly Stapelias, Huernias, Ceropegias, Orbeas & Carallumas. Check out his website "Stapeliads: Orchids of the Succulent World" which has so much of the work Jerry did on these himself, breeding, growing, blooming, etc. & his own spectacular photography, which should help you learn IDs. He may also have included explanation of the distinction you're asking about, I don't recall. Hey Stush, Happy New Year. Last I knew, the late Dr. Barad was to be considered to be THE Stapeliad authority in the Eastern half of the USA. I had the mixed pleasure of being in his greenhouses in Summer at high noon (really 1:00 pm) when the Carallumas' stench was at its strongest. Really, seriously stinky!!! FYI: they don't all have flowers that stink, actually only a relatively few from those I've smelled (a lot of different types at Barad's too). But the flowers are really fantastic & sometimes other-worldy (see Ceropegia blooms as example).