A low succulent branching at the base with jagged, faceted green stems — stapelia — does not attract much attention until it blooms. Then this plant affects two senses simultaneously: sight and smell. Large (from 6 to 30 cm in diameter) flowers - Pperfect end geometric stars - attract the attention of gloomy predatory, exotic beauty and at the same time exude disgusting smells of rotting.
Such scents are not a whim of nature, but a harsh need for it, because in those arid regions of Africa, from which the stocks have come to our window sills, there are only insect pollinators - flies. Attract such "guests" can only smells falling.
Despite the controversial neighborhood of beauty with disgust, the flower of the stapelia has its admirers. In Uppsala (Sweden), the Asclepias European Center operates, uniting fans of stocks, and the couple in Hellevotsluis (Netherlands) has six greenhouses, which contain only these fetid beauties.
In room culture, the stapelia are also attractive because caring for her is really very simple, and in summer, during flowering, you can put it on the balcony (this is useful for the plant itself) and admire the monstrous stars in the fresh air.
Kinds
Star-shaped starburst
It has a green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, tetrahedral stem with low rounded teeth. The stem reaches a height of 20 cm. The flowers are formed at the bottom of young stems. Coloring "stars" red and brown. On this background are narrow yellow stripes. The pedicels and the outer part of the petals are covered with thick hairs with a pink tinge. There is a variety without yellow stripes - the shiny lanyard.
Stapelia variegated (varying)
Shoots of this species grow up to 10 cm. The stem is green, occasionally reddish-green, smooth edges, jagged. Petals are pale yellow, with a wrinkled surface, wide at the base, elegantly pointed to the ends. Red-brown spots and stripes are scattered across the yellow background.
Stapelia giant
Strong, straight, green stems with a diameter of 3 cm grow to 20 cm. The edges of the shoots are dulled, they have rarely located low teeth. On long pedicels, truly giant flowers with a diameter of up to 35 cm open. The elongated triangular light yellow petals taper and sharpen to the ends. Their surface is covered with red thick hairs, and along the edge grow long, light hairs. The smell of these flowers is not as pronounced as in other species.
Flower stalkia
Stems of this species reach a height of 15 cm. The edges of the stems are distinct, with low, rarely located pointed teeth. In this species, up to three small flowers can form on a single pedicel of considerable length. On the greenish-yellow background of the petals are pinkish stripes and spots; to the edge they are somewhat bent, littered with white villi and hairs.
Golden-Purple Staple
Representatives of this species have a height of 10 cm. Stems are green, occasionally purple-green, with smoothed jagged edges. Large "stars" are located on young shoots, have oval petals with pointed, curving ends. The outer part of the petals is light yellow, without pubescence; the inner part is golden yellow, sometimes dark red, wrinkled, with long, thick pinkish hairs. A pleasant exception - these flowers smell like natural wax.
Stapelia changeable
Hybrid view Strong shoots teeth upwards. The height of the stems is 15 cm. The flowers are arranged on long pedicels, decorated with rounded triangular petals that are pointed at the ends. Petals with dots and stripes are yellow-green, and to the top they turn brown.
Stapelia grandiflora (grandiflora) 
Stems of this species are green or yellowish-green, tetrahedral, with sparsely spaced, slightly curved teeth. "Stars" are revealed large - up to 15-16 cm in diameter. The recurved lanceolate petals are bluish-green on the outside, dark on the inside, maroon, pubescent with gray hairs, with cilia along the edge.
Care for the stocks at home
Lighting
Stapelia light-requiring, she needs a bright, but mostly diffused light. Windows facing east or westbest suited for its content. On the south side of the sunny summer, the stocks will need shading: long intense lighting direct sunlight leaves burns on its stems.
Temperature
In summer, the optimum temperature - 22-26 degrees. At this time of year, the plant is very useful to put on the balcony, taking care that no rain drops fall on it.
Spring and autumn seasons - rest time, and for winter time the best will be the temperature from 12 to 16 degrees.
Soil and planting
The most suitable soil is with high sand content. You can pour crushed charcoal into the prepared soil for cacti, or mix the washed river sand with turf soil in a 1: 2 ratio.
For landing it is better to choose shallow container: root system does not grow much. At the bottom it is necessary to pour a layer of small pebbles or expanded clay. This drainage fills a third of the pot.
After planting for several days the plant don't water.
Watering
Excess moisture is the main danger for the African guest. Flooded plant is affected by fungi and rot. Therefore, the main commandment for watering - moderation.
In the spring, when growth begins, and in the summer, during the development of new shoots and flowering, the stocks are regularly, but not too plentiful, watered over the dried upper layer of soil.
In the fall, the frequency and volume of watering is reduced to twice a month, and in winter, if coolness is ensured, water is extremely rarely watered once a month or less - just to avoid shrinking shoots. If wintering is warm, water will have to be a little more frequent.
Humid air of the stocks is not required, it perfectly transfers the dry atmosphere of city apartments with central heating.
Top dressing
Of the fertilizers best suited special. complex mixture for cacti. Top dressing is needed only in the period of growth and flowering -spring and summer, twice a month. It is also possible to use complex fertilizers for home floriculture, but these additives must be strongly diluted: the solution is prepared two to three times weaker than for ordinary plants. Potassium is very useful - it increases resistance to rot.
Excess nitrogen fertilizers are harmful.
Bloom
It blooms in summer; time of one "wave" of flowering is usually two weeks. Viable specimens with young shoots, which provided a cool winter, bloom annually up to 2-3 times per season.
Stapes can discard the already existing flowers and buds, if you rearrange or rotate it. In the rest of the time, outside the period of flowering and budding, it is recommended to turn the pot so that the stems grow more evenly and do not bend too much in the direction of maximum illumination.
To ensure the bloom of the stocks, it is necessary to observe key rules of the maintenance: sufficient, bright, diffused lighting; loose soil with a high content of sand; dry cool wintering; reduced nitrogen content in fertilizers.
Smell 
The exotic beauty of flowers is combined with disgusting smell. Here is the whole range of flavors of spoilage and rotting: from decaying meat to rotten fish. The only exception is the stapelia golden-purple, which has a waxy flavor.
Fortunately, flowering occurs in the summer and a vibrant bouquet of monstrous "stars", to its benefit and ease grower, can (and should) put on the balcony. Pollinating flies, attracted by the enchanting smell, will not slow down to appear.
Growth and transplant
Branching occurs from the base of the stalks and sprawl goes wide; as a result, older stems are grouped in the center. This structure lives several decades. Considering that only young shoots bloom, the central part of the overgrown colony of stems rejuvenate, cutting off the old shoots on the cuttings.
Annual transplanting is needed only for young plants. With age, they will need to be replanted once every 2-3 years, in old ones it is only possible to replace the top layer of soil with fresh soil.
Breeding
Stapelia propagated by cuttings and seeds.
With a sharp blade cut off part of the stem. Cut points can be treated with coal powder. The cuttings are dried for several hours, after which they are planted in sand or lightweight soil mixture from sand with peat crumb.Rooting occurs quickly. Then a new slipway can be transplanted into a small shallow pot with more nutritious soil. Plants grown from cuttings retain the species signs of maternal staples.
The fruit ripens throughout the year. Seeds are sown in light sandy soil. They sprout about a month. In the future, as they grow, the seedlings are planted in separate containers with a standard ground for the stocks. During seed reproduction, hybridization often occurs, the splitting of characters and young specimens, as a rule, differ markedly from the original forms.
Diseases and pests
Stapelia resistant to diseases and pests. For them, only excessive watering is dangerous, especially at low temperatures - then the plant can rot.
Slipway juice is a poison for many insects. Only live on it worms, spider mites or aphids. The most effective measure to deal with such "guests" is to use appropriate insecticide. Sometimes the mealybug leaves on stalks again and again. In this case, in order to preserve the slipway, it is necessary to root her healthy stalk, and to destroy the rest, to sanitize the pot and to wash the window sill well.
If you follow the basic, very simple, rules for the care of the stocks - bright light, moderate watering, sandy, slightly fertilized soil, dry cool wintering, - the plant will live for a long time, give abundant offspring and bloom annually, uniquely combining the very attractive with the extremely repulsive.
A photo
More photos of the stocks see below:
