Huernia is one of many genera in the large grouping of succulents known as stapeliads. These plants generally have clusters of cylindrical stems (often knobbly, as seen here) and wonderful starfish-like five-pointed flowers. Lots of them emit unpleasant smells in order to attract flies as pollinators, and this has given them the nickname of ‘carrion flowers’. Huernia thuretii is a small species from South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, and the form pictured has very pale yellow flowers with bands of purple (we also have a different form with no purple markings).
