| Caralluma hesperidum in a 6.5cm pot Origin and Habitat:
Orbea decaisneana subs. hesperidum is the Moroccan form of the very widely distributed Orbea decaisneana. Habitat and ecology:
It grows dry regions along the coast from Essaouira to Sidi Ifni, and up to 150 km inland (Aoulouz). One locality was found in the Eastern Rif Mountains by Font-Quer. It is poorly recorded and it is not known whether it is threatened by genetic erosion. The species is poisonous and is not eaten by livestock. Consequently, plants are found growing out in the open and untouched, even in habitats that have been degraded by goats. Due to this and its relatively extensive distribution, this Moroccan endemic is of lower conservation concern. Description:
Orbea decaisneana subs. hesperidum (best known as Caralluma hesperidum) is the Moroccan form of Orbea decaisneana, however the two plants are quite similar and it is hard to tell apart one from the others, if not for the geographical provenance. In accordance with the variability of the species the �hesperidum� subspecies is invalid and nowadays considered as a synonym. Habit:
It is a slender much-branched perennial succulent not passing 20 cm high, forming diffuse mats to c. 50 cm in diameter, the stems decurved and rooting freely in contact with the soil. The star shaped flowers are blackish-purple, frosted with minute white papillae. It is a widespread and variable species Stems: Slender, cylindrical, slightly angled with conical protuberance, erect to decumbent and rooting, apically tapering, whitish green, grey-green, marbled or spotted with brown to purple, 10-40 cm long, 12-15 mm in diameter, excluding teeth, 3- to 6-ribbed, sides conspicuously furrowed. Tubercles (the 'teeth') 7-15 mm long, strong, conical-subulate, with a slight groove among them, horizontal to ascending. Leaves:
Rudimentary at tubercle apex; stipular denticles absent. Inflorescence:
1-3 per stem more or less erect. Peduncle, almost absent, cushion-like, 1- to 5(-20)-flowered, sometimes with 1 mm long filiform bracts, flowers developing in gradual succession. Pedicels 1 - 5 mm, more or less conical up to 2(-3) mm in diameter, spreading. Flowers:
Bisexual, regular, 5-merous, with fetid smell 8-15 mm long, 15-25 mm in diameter. Sepals3-5 mm long, acute. Corolla, campanulate, outside cream mottled with brown, inside dark purple or reddish-brown sometimes yellow towards base of tube, flat, tube 4 (-6) x 6-8 mm in diameter, cup-shaped, embracing the corona. Corolla-lobes 7-12 mm long, 5-8 mm wide, elongate-ovate, acute, ascending then horizontally spreading, inside glabrous to finely papillate, papillae whitish, surface appearing frosted, apically sometimes with a fine white bristle. Margins reflexed at times with purple clavate hairs. Corona flesh-coloured to purple 5-angled c. 4 mm x c. 5 mm. Outer lobes c. 2 mm long, pouch-like, apically often emarginate, inner lobes triangular to broadly lanceolate, c. 1 mm long, slightly longer than style head; style head pentagonal. Pollinia ovoid, 0.5 mm long, 0.3 mm wide, large in relation to flowers size. Chromosome number:
2n = 22 Blooming season:
Summer-autumn. Fruit:
Typical twin seed horns (follicles), narrowly fusiform, acute and often don't appear until a year later. -
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