Orbea lutea (N.E.Br.) Bruyns subsp. lutea

Yellow carrion flower

The yellow carrion flower is so named because it produces a pungent odor reminiscent of rotting fish when in bloom. The odor attracts flies which lay eggs and pollinate the flowers. It is native to South Africa (Cape Province, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal), Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. It is not found in North America.

Plants: These plants are succulents, with waxy, thickened stems squarish in cross-section. Stems are gray-green in color, mottled with red-brown when grown in full sun. They are 1–6″ (3–15 cm) high. The stems have thornlike projections about ⅜″ (1 cm) long.

Leaves: No obvious leaves.

Flowers: These flowers are easily distinguished by their large clusters of 6-24 brightly colored, five-petaled, starfish-shaped flowers. Flowers are directly attached to the plant (no stem), usually clustered near the base. Flowers may be pale, bright, or mustard yellow, ranging to orange, dark orange, or almost maroon. Plants remain in flower from December to April.

Fruits: A single or paired, spindle-shaped follicle about 3½″ (9 cm) long.

Habitats: In scrub, savanna (acacia and mopane veld) and grassland on rocky outcrops and hillsides in full sun or semi-shade, at elevations of 1640–4921′ (500–1500 m).

A closely related subspecies, Orbea lutea subsp. vaga, is found in more westerly portions of southern Africa, while this more common species is found “along the lower Orange River and then northwards through most of Namibia to southern Angola. This subspecies is distinguished from vaga in having much thinner and longer corolla segments (3–5 times as long as broad compared to 1.5–2.5 times as long as broad in vaga.) See this comparison.

Online References:

Orbea lutea subsp. lutea description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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