Stapelia hirsuta

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by estación seca

If you're lucky it will give you seed horns. Like other milkweeds the seeds have parachutes. You need to take them as the horns open or they will blow away. They are very easy from seed and grow rapidly.

At one time there was information about their pollination on a page by the late Jerry Barad. He created many hybrids. Milkweeds trap insects' limbs and antennae when they visit. As the insects struggles to free itself it picks up a pollinium, or pollinates the flower.

I've looked into pollinating them, and when the need for a stereo microscope was mentioned I left it at that. I have several in bloom in close proximity, and have seen flies on several, although the eggs on this one are a first. Hopefully the flies do their job.