Frerea indica Dalzell (1865).
Named for Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere ( 1815 - 1884, FRS, 1st Governer of Bombay, botanist).
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Frerea indica (once included with Caralluma as C. frerei) is a monotypic genus from
hilly forests of Maharashtra, India, with a very limited distribution of plants growing in crevices of cliffs at altitudes of around 3000 ft. Although widely cultivated, it is considered endangered in its habitat,
through habitat loss and erosion and dependence on specific pollinators required for the difficult pollination mechanism of Asclepiadaceae.
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Frerea indica is unusual among stapeliads in having leafy stems. The succulent
leaves can be shed in dry conditions as a water conservation mechanism, further
assisted by development of a reflective silvery surface to the stems. The flowers of
some clones have ciliated edges, although only a few black hairs are visible at the
right hand edge of this flower. Some variation is also recorded in the ratio of purple
and yellow markings on the petals.
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In cultivation, this species needs to be kept warm, especially through the winter, so that
it can be given sufficient water to retain its roots. It can be propagated through stem cuttings.
It's natural growth habit of elongated stems hanging down cliifs makes it a suitable subject
for a hanging basket, seen here at RBG Kew.
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