Origin and Habitat: South Africa, Eastern Cape

• Orbea variegata (L.) Haw.
• Stapelia variegata L.
• Stisseria variegata (L.) Kuntze

• Orbea variegata (L.) Haw.
• Stapelia variegata L.
• Stisseria variegata (L.) Kuntze
• Orbea anguinea (Jacq.) Haw.
• Stapelia anguinea Jacq.
• Stisseria anguina (Jacq.) Kuntze
• Orbea atrata (Tod.)
• Stapelia atrata Tod.
• Orbea atropurpurea (Salm-Dyck)
• Stapelia atropurpurea Salm-Dyck
• Stisseria atropurpurea (Salm-Dyck) Kuntze
• Orbea bisulca Haw.
• Stapelia bisulca (Haw.) Donn
• Stisseria bisulca (Haw.) Kuntze
• Orbea bufonia (Jacq.) Haw.
• Stapelia bufonia Jacq.
• Stisseria bufonia (Jacq.) Kuntze
• Orbea ciliolata (Tod.)
• Stapelia ciliolata Tod.
• Orbea ciliolulata (Tod. ex Rüst)
• Stapelia ciliolulata Tod. ex Rüst
• Orbea clypeata (Jacq.) Haw.
• Stapelia clypeata Jacq.
• Stisseria clypeata (Jacq.) Kuntze
• Orbea conspurcata (Willd.) Schult.
• Stapelia conspurcata Willd.
• Stisseria conspurcata (Willd.) Kuntze
• Orbea curtisii Haw.
• Stapelia curtisii (Haw.) Schult.
• Stisseria curtisii (Haw.) Kuntze
• Orbea hispida (Horn ex Rüst)
• Stapelia hispida Horn ex Rüst
• Orbea horizontalis (N.E.Br.)
• Stapelia horizontalis N.E.Br.
• Orbea inodora Haw.
• Stapelia inodora (Haw.) Decne.
• Stisseria inodora (Decne.) Kuntze
• Orbea lepida (Jacq.) Haw.
• Stapelia lepida Jacq.
• Stissera lepida (Jacq.) Kuntze
• Orbea marginata (Willd.) Schult.
• Stapelia marginata Willd.
• Stissera marginata (Willd.) Kuntze
• Orbea marmorata (Jacq.) Schult. in Roem. & Schult.
• Stapelia marmorata Jacq.
• Stisseria marmorata (Jacq.) Kuntze
• Orbea mixta (Masson) Haw.
• Stapelia mixta Masson
• Stisseria mixta (Masson) Kuntze
• Orbea natalensis (Rüst)
• Stapelia natalensis Rüst
• Orbea normalis (Jacq.) Schult. in Roem. & Schult.
• Stapelia normalis Jacq.
• Stisseria normalis (Jacq.) Kuntze
• Orbea obliqua (Willd.)
• Stapelia obliqua Willd.
• Stisseria obliqua (Willd.) Kuntze
• Tromotriche obliqua (Willd.) Don
• Orbea ophiuncula (Haw.)
• Stapelia ophiuncula
• Orbea orbicularis (Andrews) Haw.
• Stapelia orbicularis Andrews
• Stisseria orbicularis (Andrews) Kuntze
• Orbea picta (Donn) Haw.
• Stapelia picta Donn
• Stisseria picta (Donn) Kuntze
• Orbea planiflora (Jacq.) Don
• Stapelia planiflora Jacq.
• Stisseria planiflora (Jacq.) Kuntze
• Orbea putida (A.Berger)
• Stapelia putida A.Berger
• Orbea quinquenervia Haw.
• Stapelia quinquenervis (Haw.) Schult.
• Stisseria quinquenervis (Schult.) Kuntze
• Orbea retusa Haw.
• Stapelia retusa (Haw.) Schult. in Roem. & Schult.
• Stisseria retusa (Haw.) Kuntze
• Orbea rugosa (Jacq.) Don
• Stapelia rugosa Jacq.
• Stisseria rugosa (Jacq.) Kuntze
• Orbea scutellata (Tod.)
• Stapelia scutellata Tod.
• Orbea scylla (hort.)
• Stapelia scylla hort.
• Orbea trisulca (Donn)
• Stapelia trisulca Donn
• Orbea variegata var. brevicornis (N.E.Br.)
• Stapelia variegata var. brevicornis N.E.Br.
• Orbea variegata var. pallida (N.E.Br.)
• Stapelia variegata var. pallida N.E.Br.
• Orbea variegata var. prometheus (Dammann ex Rüst)
• Orbea woodfordiana Haw.
• Stapelia woodfordiana hort. ex Haw.
• Stisseria woodfordiana (Haw.) Kuntze
• Gonostemon х marginatus (A.C.White & B.Sloane) P.V.Heath

Description: Orbea variegataSN|19768]]SN|19768]] is a soft stemmed succulent erect or prostrate, branched above ground. In age forms big clumps. The carrion-like smell of the flowers attracts flies and other insects for pollination.
Stems: Sprawling and decumbent over to 25 cm long, toothed, grey green mottled purple in full sun.
Flowers:* The typical flower is 5-7 cm across with 5 blunt lobes, starfish-like, attractively patterned or dusted with chocolate/purple, brown/bronze blotches on a greenish-yellow background, mostly in 6-7 rows or irregularly scattered, Corolla rugose, with a yellow central disc (annulus) speckled with dark spots.
Blooming season: Flowers coming in late summer or fall, have a light carrion smell. It is quite free flowering if in direct sunlight.
Fruits: The plant can readily set seed, after the fecundation the carpels develop long cylindrical fruits up to 12 cm long, these need to be contained when they ripen, because as soon as the fruit opens it liberate a cloud of flying seed provided whit a white feathery cotton fluff. The seeds can float from the pods and drift around the greenhouse on the slightest breeze.

Notes: Orbea variegataSN|19768]]SN|19768]] is almost certainly the most common Asclepiad in cultivation, even if it is still often seen under its earlier name of Stapelia variegata. (name given by Linnaeus) nowadays it is possible to find plants with both names in collections. And for the reason of the variability of the species, many could believe they have two different genera represented.
It is the first Stapelia that has reached Europe, it was introduced into cultivation in 1639, It arrived through a collection by the missionary Justus Heurnius. It is extremely variable, everything about this species is variable – size, shape, colour, corona, stems, habit; it is almost impossible to find two plants that are exactly identical one to each other. Earlier there were close to 50 varieties listed but all have now been taken back into the single species

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Focke Albers und Ulli Meve (Hrsg.): “Sukkulenten-Lexikon" Volume 3 Asclepiadaceae” Ulmer, Stuttgart 2002
2) White & Sloane. “The Stapelieae” edn 2. Abbey San Encino Press, 1937
3) Golding, J.S. "Southern African Plant Red Data Lists." Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 14. SABONET. Pretoria. Page 162. (ed.) 2002
4) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
5) Carl August Lückhoff “The stapelieae of Southern Africa” A. A. Balkema, 1952
6) Doreen Court “Succulent Flora of Southern Africa” A.A. Balkema, 2000
7) Hermann Jacobsen “A handbook of succulent plants: descriptions, synonyms, and cultural details for succulents other than Cactaceae" Blandford Press, 1960
8) Bruyns, P.V. "Stapeliads of Southern Africa and Madagascar" Volume I Umdaus Press, Hatfield, South Africa Pages 257 - 259 2005
9) Raimondo, D. 2008. Orbea variegata (L.) Haw. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2014.1. Accessed on 2015/02/12

Cultivation and Propagation: Orbea variegataSN|19768]]SN|19768]] is very easy to grow, it is the ideal plant for beginners.
Soil: Use a gritty, well-drained soil pH 7,5 to 8,5 (mildly alkaline).
Exposure: It needs Light shade to full sun (but tolerate shadow).
Temperature: It is very resistant to heat, and will also tolerate quite cold temperatures and light frost too (in good condition), best in a ventilated environment.
Moisture: Water regularly during the growing season, keep dry in winter.
Pests and diseases: It is quite resistant to the “Balck spot” disease of Asclepiads.
Propagation: It is easily propagated by removing a cutting, sometimes with roots attached, in spring and summer, But seeds germinate readily if they are sown when fresh.