Zulu Giant

stapelia gigantea

The Zulu Giant (Stapelia gigantea) is a remarkable stem succulent famous for producing some of the largest, most bizarre flowers in the plant kingdom. Native to the arid regions of southeastern Africa, this clump-forming perennial features thick, upright, four-angled green stems that resemble cacti but lack true spines. It is highly celebrated for its extraordinary evolutionary adaptation: generating massive star-shaped blossoms that mimic the appearance and foul odor of decaying meat.

生息地: Typically found growing in the dry, rocky soils of subtropical savannas, thorn scrubs, and arid valleys, often tucked under the shade of larger shrubs to escape the intense midday sun.

外見

This succulent forms dense clumps of erect, velvety green stems measuring 10 to 30 centimeters in height. The real spectacle is the flower: a colossal five-pointed star reaching up to 40 centimeters in diameter. These blooms are pale yellow to tan, intricately patterned with fine, transverse reddish-purple lines, and fringed with silky white hairs along the margins. The center of the flower features a deep, dark purple cup containing the reproductive organs.

界Plantae門Tracheophyta綱Magnoliopsida目Gentianales科Apocynaceae属Stapelia

Zulu Giant

カテゴリ

植物

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

最初にスナップしよう！

おもしろい事実

Despite attracting flies to lay eggs with its convincing rot scent, the hatched maggots inevitably starve as the flower offers no actual meat.

Its enormous star-shaped flower can measure larger than a standard dinner plate, earning it the species name 'gigantea'.

The plant's ribbed stems help cast shadow on itself, reducing transpiration and keeping the plant cool in blistering heat.

特殊能力

Emits a strong, pungent scent mimicking rotting flesh to attract carrion-feeding insects like flies for pollination.

Utilizes thick, fleshy, ribbed stems to store water efficiently, allowing it to withstand long periods of severe drought.

Features specialized pollen sacs called pollinia that stick to visiting flies, ensuring efficient genetic transfer.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 10-30 cm
体重: 0.2-3 kg
寿命: 10-30 年

食性と食事

As an autotrophic plant, the Zulu Giant produces its own organic compounds and energy through photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

主な食物

Sunlight
Water
Carbon dioxide
Soil nutrients

採餌方法

None

生態系とのつながり

mutualism

Common Green Bottle Fly

Lucilia sericata

Attracted by the carrion scent, this fly acts as a major pollinator while attempting to lay eggs on the petals.

mutualism

Blue Bottle Fly

Calliphora vicina

Lured by the flower's appearance and odor, it inadvertently transfers pollen while searching for oviposition sites.

parasite

Long-tailed Mealybug

Pseudococcus longispinus

Sucks sap from the succulent stems, which can weaken the plant and cause soot mold infections.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Zulu Giantを見分けるには？

Zulu Giantを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Zulu Giantの長さは何ですか？

10-30 cm

Zulu Giantの体重は何ですか？

0.2-3 kg

Zulu Giantの寿命は何ですか？

10-30 年

Zulu Giantは何を食べますか？

As an autotrophic plant, the Zulu Giant produces its own organic compounds and energy through photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

Zulu Giantは通常どこに生息していますか？

Typically found growing in the dry, rocky soils of subtropical savannas, thorn scrubs, and arid valleys, often tucked under the shade of larger shrubs to escape the intense midday sun.

Zulu Giantはどのように狩りをしますか？

None