I was waiting for this flower impatiently. Few weeks ago I saw the little bud growing and I was checking every few days to see if it already opened. Bu no... he was just rowing and growing.
I wasn't sure how big the flower will be since it is a new plant and it wasn't blooming before. But I thought it will be one of those super small and super stinky ones.
And finally, two days ago the oversized bud finally opened!
Orbea Variegata
There is it! Orbea/Stapelia variegata also called Starfish Flower. I actually have two of those. One that I bought few years ago and never, ever bloomed (and I think it is supposed to look like this one) and this one here that I got as a tiny cutting last summer and now it is already blooming. The first one should be very ashamed!
The flowers are so cool! And even though they stink like decomposing meat, they are worth growing. Just make sure they bloom in very ventilated place, or outside, or you don't have sensitive nose. It is really disgusting smell!
And this is the lovely, alien-like center responsible for the odor.
It smells so bad I didn't even touch the petals to check the cool texture. Just in case the sell would stick to my hands...
But can you see the ripples? Looks like skin...
Yea... I like it :)
I must like it since I have a few of those stinky ones. They all smell just the same - rotten flesh.
It attracts flies so my cat loves them too :)
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Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.
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