Kauaʻi record · kba_plant_stapelia_gigantea
Zulu Giant
Stapelia gigantea
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About Zulu Giant
A dense low clump-forming stem succulent with sharply four-angled fleshy shoots and tiny triangular leaf rudiments. Large spreading star flowers arise near the stem bases. A representative pale-yellow corolla has transverse red-brown wrinkles and fine long pale hairs, surrounding a purple central corona. Paired erect spindle-shaped fruits can follow. Established wild occurrence warrants observations of occupied cover, reproductive plants and new recruits. These measurements can test persistence and spread. The reviewed accounts do not quantify an island-wide effect on Kauaʻi native vegetation.
Kauaʻi evidence
Generated media is not occurrence evidence. Proposed monitoring endpoints are not reported observations, measured effects or causal findings.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Stapelia gigantea
- Common names
- Zulu giant · giant toad plant · carrion flower
- Other names
- Stapelia gigantea · Zulu giant · giant toad plant · carrion flower
- Record type
- Species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Recorded on Kauaʻi
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not yet assessed
- Evidence date
- 2026-10-07
- Evidence limits
- Island-level public occurrence only. Preserve angular succulent stems and giant hairy corollas; do not depict ordinary broad foliage. Fruit and seed colors are not supplied in the reviewed account.
Habitat and ecology
- Habitats
- Not yet assessed
- Food and resource needs
- Not yet assessed
- Reproduction
- Not yet assessed
- Shelter
- Not yet assessed
- Growth form
- Shrub or subshrub; succulent subshrub
Threats and conservation
- Monitoring
- Occupied area and vegetation cover; Mature plants and new recruits; Reproductive plants and fruiting frequency. Proposed monitoring endpoints are not reported observations, measured effects or causal findings.
- Data gaps
- Current island extent and population trend · Measured local ecological effects
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal timing
- Not yet assessed
- Seasonal description
- A dense low clump-forming stem succulent with sharply four-angled fleshy shoots and tiny triangular leaf rudiments. Large spreading star flowers arise near the stem bases. A representative pale-yellow corolla has transverse red-brown wrinkles and fine long pale hairs, surrounding a purple central corona. Paired erect spindle-shaped fruits can follow. Established wild occurrence warrants observations of occupied cover, reproductive plants and new recruits. These measurements can test persistence and spread. The reviewed accounts do not quantify an island-wide effect on Kauaʻi native vegetation.