Stapelia gigantea is a
species of
flowering plant in the
family Apocynaceae,
native to south eastern Africa. Growing to tall, it is a clump-forming
succulent with erect green stems thick. In summer, large star-shaped 5-petalled flowers up to in diameter are borne. The flowers are red and yellow, wrinkled, with a silky texture and fringed with hairs. They have the smell of rotting flesh, in order to attract the flies which
pollinate them. The plant is commonly referred to as
Zulu giant,
carrion plant or
toad plant (although the name "carrion plant" can also refer to
Stapelia grandiflora).
Stapelia gigantea sometimes also goes by the name of
Stapelia nobilis or
Stapelia marlothii.