Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Brachystelma tuberosum R.Br.

Frost-tender, tuberous-rooted, succulent perennial with lance-shaped leaves, sparsely branched stems, to 10cm, bearing up to 4 star-shaped flowers, to 2cm across, the tubes green on the outside, spotted purple-brown and yellow inside, with purple-brown lines, with dark purple-brown lobes.  [RHSD]. 

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1821.  [JD].  ‘Mr. Brown in his valuable treatise on the natural orders of Asclepiadeae and Apocineae, published in the first volume of the transactions of the Wernerian Society, has divided the genus Stapelia, but our present plant, will not quite unite with any of the genera there established; we are therefore highly indebted to the friendship of this learned Botanist for enabling us to establish the genus of this very rare plant.’  [BM t.2343/1822].  Don.  BR f.722/1824.  FS f.340/1848. 

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [B.51/1850]. 

Notes

Published Jan 17, 2009 - 05:12 PM | Last updated Feb 23, 2010 - 04:31 PM

View a printable version of this page.

Depicted is the tuberous root and a shoot with leaves and purple-brown flowers. Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.2343, 1822.

Brachystelma tuberosum R.Br. | BM t.2343/1822 | BHL

Family Asclepiadaceae
Category
Region of origin

South Africa
Synonyms
  • Stapelia tuberosa Meerb. 
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Brachystelma tuberosum 
Confidence level high