Origin and Habitat: Ceropegia fuscaSN|11038]]SN|11038]] is endemic to the Canary Islands, where it grows on Tenerife (especially the Macizo de Anaga area), Gran Canaria and La Palma
Habitat: Growing in nature in exclusively red, recent lava in sun exposed spots at up to about 600 m altitude where they form large upright open shrubs.

• Ceropegia dichotoma subs. fusca (Bolle) G.D.Rowley
• Ceropegia fusca Bolle

• Ceropegia dichotoma Haw.
• Ceropegia aphylla Haw.
• Ceropegia hians Svent.
• Ceropegia hians var. striata Svent.

• Ceropegia dichotoma subs. fusca (Bolle) G.D.Rowley
• Ceropegia fusca Bolle

• Ceropegia dichotoma subs. krainzii (Svent.) Bruyns
• Ceropegia krainzii Svent.
• Ceropegia ceratophora Svent.
• Ceropegia chrysantha Svent.

Description: Ceropegia fuscaSN|11038]]SN|11038]] is unusual in that it grows more like a shrub with several spreading, cylindrical branches, branching mainly near the base which may attain a height of 60-90 (or more) cm. The stems grow upright in tight formation looking something like organ pipes with short-lived linear leaves on the tiops. The name was given because of the fuscous or greyish-brown stems, however, in the natural state the old stems often become very white and are said to resemble a cluster of bleached bones. In habitat the younger joints are readily dropped when conditions become too hot and dry for the plant to sustain them. Ceropegia fuscaSN|11038]]SN|11038]] has been known since 1832.
Stems: Many, strongly succulent, thornless, almost leafless, joined, simple or repeatedly forked, erect (or sometime lying down when they reach more than one meter in length) woody 80 to 150 cm (or more) tall, they are glabrous, glaucous-grey, reddish-green to olive green densely covered with white wax under very sunny conditions. They taper from a diameter of just over 12 mm at the base, diminishing at the nodes, to just under a 6 mm in the last node.
Leaves: Sessile, at each node and on the tip of the stem appears few narrow, straight, needle-like leaves 2-5 cm long, 1,5-4(-9) mm wide, arranged in opposite pairs, they are deciduous and wilt quickly if there isn't enough water. The plant is leafless for most of the year.
Flowers: The lantern shaped flowers are produced in sessile clusters of two to five in the leaf axils. Sepals narrow triangular 2-3 mm long. Corolla about 3 cm long, tubular, glabrous outside, dull reddish brown, with five narrow lobes joined at the tip. Tube thinly hairy inside and white or very pale yellow, about 2.5 cm long, swollen at the base, cylindric above and slightly bent; lobes about 12 mm long, deltoid-lanceolate, tapering. into slender tails. Corona light yellow. Pedicels very short (2-4 mm).
Blooming season: Spring to summer.
Fruits (pair of large capsules): Up to 10 cm long containing numerous brown seeds provided with a plume of white hairs (coma) that favours their dispersion by the wind.

Notes: Ceropegia fuscaSN|22135]]SN|11038]] together with Ceropegia dichotomaSN|11038]]SN|22135]] is one of the two 'stick -ceropegias' of similar habit, which are found on the Canary Islands, but C. fusca possesses a low number of stomata. This species is usually found at lower altitudes than C. dichotoma and is able to grow in drier habitats than that species. The stomata are more deeply sunken than in C. dichotoma and are hidden behind shedding cuticle flakes on the entire stems, even on young shoots, and not only on older parts, as in C. dichotoma.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Focke Albers, Ulrich Meve “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Asclepiadaceae” Volume 5. Springer, 2002
2) “Skrifter utgitt av Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi: Mat.-Naturv. Klasse. I.” 1969
3) John Robert Brown “Unusual Plants: 110 Spectacular Photographs of Succulents” Abbey Garden Press, 1954
4) “Kew - Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information” H.M. Stationery Office, 1974
5) Edgar Lamb “Cactus-like succulents” W.T. Neale, 1950
6) Pérez, M. Á. C. “Native Flora of the Canary Islands”. Everest, León. 1999
7) Peter Schönfelder und Ingrid Schönfelder “Die Kosmos Kanarenflora”. 2. edt. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co KG Stuttgart
8) “Ceropegia fusca” in Reynolds Ceropegia Journal <http://www.sagereynolds.com/cero/fusca.htm>
9) Wikipedia contributors. "Ceropegia fusca." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Dec. 2015. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.

Cultivation and Propagation: Ceropegia fuscaSN|11038]]SN|11038]] is used as an ornamental plant in dry and drought tolerant water conserving gardens. It need full blasting sun and makes a very handsome pot plant but it is not suitable for indoor culture. Can be grown outdoor in mild climate where it proves to grow well semi-neglected. It is also very resistant and is very rare to see an aphid or a sick part, be only aware of mealy bugs.
Waterings: Furnish moderate water in warm season, drier in winter.
Exposure: It requires hot conditions and how much sun as possible to grow well.
Propagation: It is propagated by seeds and pieces of stems. Before planting the segments, it is advisable to wait a week to let the cut to dry and heal. They then root easily.
Uses: It is a slow grower plant not suitable for indoor culture, it can be used as an ornamental plant in arid gardens. It requires hot and very sunny conditions to grow well.