Caralluma ACUTANGULA

Caralluma ACUTANGULA - Sharp-angled caralluma, Desmidorchis acutangula, Desmidorchis RETROSPICIENS.

Caralluma is a genus of perennial plants in the family Apocynaceae, comprising about 80 species distributed in India, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the southeastern Mediterranean.

Most species grow in deserts and semi-deserts, hiding from the heat in the shade of shrubs. The thin roots do not penetrate deep into the soil, but spread horizontally. Thick toothed stems with 3-6 ribs branch actively, forming new offsets. The height of the fleshy stems usually reaches 10-30 cm (4-12 in), but some species are capable of growing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in height in open sun. Leaves on the stems are absent.

Flowering occurs in summer with solitary or umbellate flowers located at the base of the stems. The corollas of bell-shaped flowers are deeply cleft into 5 sharp petals of yellow, brown, and red colors. Flowering lasts for about a week, attracting flies with its putrid odor. Later, horn-like fruits appear.

Caralluma acutangula is a plant with branched succulent stems 75 cm (30 in) high and wide. Segments are light green to whitish, 15 cm (6 in) long, 4-ribbed with sharp margins and strongly concave sides. Ribs have sharp, triangular, downcurved tubercles. There are very few leaves, and they are minute, 0.1 cm (0.04 in) long and wide. The hemispherical inflorescence bears over 100 densely arranged, starry, dark purple flowers with triangular, ciliate petals.

To improve germination, seeds are presoaked for 2-4 hours in warm water with the addition of stimulants (SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon), then sown superficially without burying into a well-drained mixture of standard houseplant soil with sand and perlite in equal parts, lightly pressed into the soil, moistened with a spray bottle, placed in a mini-greenhouse or covered with film, and germinated in the light but not in the sun at a temperature of 21-27 °C (70-81 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Overwatering and drying out of the sowings must be avoided.

Seeds germinate from 3-4 weeks to 3 months. Upon seedling emergence, watering is reduced so that the top layer has time to dry out between waterings. After a few months, when the seedlings grow larger, pricking out into individual pots is carried out.

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Caralluma prefers a bright location without direct sunlight. Shading from bright midday sun is necessary. During the period of active growth, from spring to autumn, room temperature is optimal for maintenance. In the winter period, when the plant enters a dormant state, it is necessary to provide a temperature of 13-15 °C (55-59 °F). Temperatures below 10-12 °C (50-54 °F) can be fatal.

In summertime, Caralluma requires generous watering once a week after the soil has completely dried out. From September to November watering is restricted, and in winter nearly dry maintenance at low air humidity is necessary. The most common cultivation problem is root rot due to overwatering during the cold season.

A well-drained soil mixture of leaf mold, sod soil, peat, and coarse sand (1:1:1:1) is used for cultivation. Repotting is carried out annually in spring into wide containers. The plant is resistant to diseases and pests.