Piaranthus atrosanguineus(N.E.Br . ) Bruyns

Caralluma atrosanguinea , Ceropegia atrosanguinea , Huerniopsis atrosanguinea , Stapelia atrosanguinea

crime syndicate : ApocynaceaeSubfamily : AsclepiadoideaeTribe : CeropegieaeSubtribe : StapeliinaeGenus : Piaranthus

Piaranthus atrosanguineus aka Huerniopsis atrosanguinea

In cultivation, Vredendal, Western Cape, South Africa. Photo by Paul Schultz. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Piaranthus atrosanguineus , formerly known asHuerniopsis atrosanguinea , is a succulent plant with dense fleshy stems with more or less rectangulartuberclesjoined into usually four Angle , each bearing towardsapexa narrowly deltoid leafage - ABC that before long dry out . The stem are obtuse green to grey , often cloud with purple . They are up to 6 inches ( 15 atomic number 96 ) foresighted and 0.8 inch ( 2 cm ) thick , growing along the earth or ascension .

The suddenly - lived flowers are star - shaped , up to 1.8 inches ( 4.5 cm ) across , and seem in bundles of up to three from the central parts of immature stems , opening successively in summer and dip . They open in the late afternoon and droop the next morning . The five - lobedcorollais smooth , gray - green mottle with purple on the outside and finely papillate , thick maroon to embrown on the interior . Thecoronais up to 0.5 inches ( 1.3 cm ) tall and has five pale orange - lily-livered outer and five innerlobesin the same colour below and cream to white above .

Piaranthus atrosanguineusis aboriginal toSouth Africa(Limpopo , Mpumalanga , and North West ) and easternBotswana . It grows in sandlike grunge in dry bushveld at elevation between 2,130 and 4,920 infantry ( 650 m and 1,500 m ) .

The specific epithet " atrosanguineus(at - ro - san - GWIN - ee - us ) means " dark blood - color " and refers to the colour of the flowers .

Light : P. atrosanguineusgrows good in full sun or fond shade . It will benefit from light shade during the hottest summertime days . Indoors , come out the plant near the brightest window in your home . It will stretch if it does not have enough sunlight . Avoid abruptly proceed industrial plant adapted to lower wanton levels to full sun to prevent sunburn .

Soil : utilise commercial potting grime mixing for succulent or organise your own with 50 to 70 % mineral gritrock , such as coarse sand , pumice stone , or perlite .

Temperature : This plant prosper in warm out-of-door environment with low-pitched to restrained humidness . It does not wish winter inhuman and should stay fairly ironical and tender during its wintertime quiescency . P. atrosanguineuscan withstand temperature as humiliated as 35 ° F ( 1.7 ° C).USDA Plant Hardiness Zones10b to 11b , 35 to 50 ° F ( 1.7 to 10 ° cytosine ) .

lachrymation : P. atrosanguineushas typical watering needs for a succulent . During the growing time of year , from springtime to fall , irrigate your works good and allow the grease to dry between waterings . Do not irrigate in winter . The plant goes abeyant in winter and take almost no water , about once a calendar month .

feed : If you need to keep your plant healthy and thriving , fertilizing is a good idea . Feed with urine - soluble fertilizer thin to half the commend strength only when the plant is actively produce .

Repotting : Repot your plant in leaping just before the maturate time of year . P. atrosanguineushas shallow roots and does not require too much soil to grow . plunk a container with drain holes .

Propagation : The best direction to propagate this succulent is from stem turn cuttings . Take cuttings during the raise season to ensure unspoiled rooting . P. atrosanguineusis also prosperous to grow from   seed . Sow the seeds in springtime .

Learn more atHow to Grow and Care for Stapeliads .

P. atrosanguineushas no toxic upshot reported . It is safe around pets and man .

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