Caralluma

Family Asclepiadaceae. Habitat: Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Socotra Islands, Sri Lanka, India, the southeastern part of the Mediterranean. About 110 species are known. Occur on sandy and rocky soils, usually in the shade of xerophytic shrubs, and only some species in open sunny places.

Stems succulent, 4–6-angled, 1–3 cm in diameter, almost completely lacking leaves, gray or olive-green, often with reddish spots in the sun, erect or prostrate. Form bushes up to 20 cm high. Flowers with a five-lobed corolla. Flower size ranges from 0.6 cm to 7.5 cm in diameter; they are solitary or in inflorescences, yellow, brown, pink, or red. The scent is unpleasant but faint. Flowers remain on the plant for about a week. Pollinated by flies.

Location should be bright. Propagate by stem cuttings and seeds. Repot in spring into shallow wide dishes, using a soil mix of leaf mold, turf soil, peat, and coarse sand (1:1:1:1). During the summer growing period water generously; in winter keep nearly dry at a temperature not below 12–15°C. Particularly sensitive species can be grafted onto Ceropegia woodii.