Stapelia similis flower

The inflorescence of Stapelia similis consists of a few flowers developing in sequence on long stalks that emerge from near the base of a young stem.

The sepals and the outside surface of the corolla are covered in tiny hairs. The corolla of the flower has a stubby five-pointed star-shape measuring about 2 cm across and is purple or dark brown in colour. The upper (inner) surface of the corolla is hairless, but covered in finely irregular transversal wrinkling.

The outer corona has five oblong lobes, hairless and nearly black. The inner corolla has tapering lobes above the anthers (Williamson, 2010; White and Sloane, 1937).