Parachute Flower (Ceropegia sandersonil)

            Ceropegia sandersonii is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ceropegia (Apocynaceae), native to Mozambique, South Africa, and Swaziland. Common names are parachute plant, fountain flower, and umbrella plant.

It is an evergreen, prostrate, slender twiner, nearly hairless, with sparse, succulent leaves. The distinctive greenish white funnel-shaped (having a corolla-tube) flowers are 5–7 cm long and are placed on a delicate stalk. Due the fact that the corolla lobes are partially fused, the opening of the flowers is partially inhibited. The tips of the petals do not separate and form a roof or umbrella-like dome on the flower, while the fused bottom forms the tube. The openings between the petals are also referred to as windows, hence the name windowed flowers that is also used for flowers of this type. The flower itself serves as a biological (fly-pollinated) pitfall-trap, that traps flies when they descend into the corolla tube. Small hairs that point downwards prevent the insect from escaping. Once trapped, the fly is thoroughly covered in pollen and only released when the flower reaches the end of its life and the hairs weaken.

Taken on: May 20, 2019

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ceropegia

sandersonil

flower

window

fountain

umbrella

plant

funnel-shaped

corolla-tube

succulent

leaves

corolla

lobe

umbrella-like

pitfall-trap

trap

fly

pollinated « less

Sets appears in: • Single Flower (Cool Climate)

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