Origin and Habitat: South Africa and Swaziland only S of 31° S (Uitenhage and Willowmore to Graaff Reinet and King William's Town)
Habitat: Ceropegia stapeliiformisSN|22160]]SN|22160]] is usually found rooted in leaf mould under the protection of shrubs. The vegetative parts of the plant are very well camouflaged in their habitat, and the plants are quite difficult to spot, even when flowering.

• Ceropegia stapeliiformis Haw.

• Ceropegia stapeliiformis subs. serpentina (E.A.Bruce) R.A.Dyer
• Ceropegia serpentina E.A.Bruce
• Ceropegia stapeliiformis var. serpentina (E.A.Bruce) H.Huber

Description: Ceropegia stapeliiformisSN|22160]]SN|22160]] is a most curious flowering plant with stems very much resemblimg those of a Stapelia but they grow much longer. The flowers are very singular with the corolla cut into five segments free-spreading, reflexed and fringed with hairs.
Habit: It is a low growing succulent species creeping, scrambling or occasionally twining. It has either climbing stems, thin and more than one metre long, especially in the case of plants grown in a warm and moist atmosphere (green-houses), or short, gnarled stems, about 20 cm long, creeping on the surface or burrowing into the ground.
Stem: 1-1,8 cm thick near the base, tapering toward the tip, up to 1,5 m long, very succulent, full of a clear milky juice, rounded, glabrous, of a dark lurid green colour, often striped or blotched with red-brown, slightly glossy, glabrous, marked with with prominent tubercles. The creeping stems can take root, leaving older parts behind to wither and die.
Leaves: Rudimentary and ephemeral at the growing tips only, represented by minute triangular to cordate scales with robust milky-cloudy stipular glands.
Roots: Fibrous which develop adventitiously where the stems touch the ground.
Flowers: One to two (occasionally more), 5-7(-10) cm long and scarcely twining from the thin tapering ends of the shoots. Peduncle (2-)4-6(-20) mm long, thickened upwards. Pedicels 6-10 mm long; Sepals lanceolate 4 mm long. Corolla about 5-7 cm long with an ovoid base 6-7 mm wide and cut into five thin lobes. Lobes broadly triangular at the base the thin, 2-4 cm long, free, not attached at the tips, dark purple or brownish outside white and hairy within, curve backwards and the sides reflexed so that the upper side having the form of a sharp keel presenting a most singular appearance .Tube funnel-shaped, ± 3 mm in diameter, curved, swelling below, and constricted just above the base, greenish white much dappled with dull purple . Staminal crown with the exterior lobes short, erect, or slightly patent, emarginate, inner elongated, erecto-connivent, filiform.The buds have an interesting structure greatly resembling slender lanterns.
Blooming season: Spring to early summer. The fragile blooms last for several days on the plant. It blooms when the vine reaches about 60 cm in length.
Fruits: Typical twin seed horns (follicles), grey-green, erect, broadly fusiform, about 10 cm long with tubercles.

Bibliography: Major referencens and further lectures
1) John Sims “Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Or, Flower-garden Displayed” Volume 64 plant 3567. 1837
2) Otto A. Leistner “Flora of Southern Africa: Which Deals with the Territories of South Africa ....” 27,4. page 52 Division of Agricultural Information, Department of Agriculture, 1980
3) Thomas Green Fessenden, James Englebert Teschemacher, Joseph Breck “Horticultural Register, and Gardener's Magazine” Volume 3, Page 259 G. D. Barrett, 1837
4) Dyer “Ceropegia, Brachystelma & Riocreuxia in Southern Africa” A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam. 1983.
5) Vera Higgins “Succulent Plants Illustrated” Blandford Press, 1949
6) Focke Albers, Ulrich Meve “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Asclepiadaceae” Volume 5. Springer, 2002
7) “The Flowering Plants of Africa: A Magazine Containing Coloured Figures with Descriptions of the Flowering Plants Indigenous in Africa ...” Volume 21 Botanical Research Institute (South Africa), South Africa. Dept. of Agricultural Technical Services 1941
8) Hermann Jacobsen “Abromeitiella to Euphorbia” Blandford Press, 1960

Cultivation and Propagation: Ceropegia stapeliiformisSN|22160]]SN|22160]] is a xerophytic plant adapted to dry soils, that can be grown in greenhouses with other succulents, but it can also be grown on window-sills. It is reputed quite difficult to grow, and it can be quite frustrating for the 'beginner'. If one waters too sparingly, the brown sticks shrivel. A tiny bit more water results in rot despite having the plant in very well draining soil and growing it in full sun. During the growing period it requires heat, light and adequate watering. Sometime a plant that formerly grew very well, suddenly dies off. But in fact this 'dying' is a quite normal part of the life cycle in this species. However the flowers are most interesting and worth the trouble, only bearing in mind that this species benefits from slightly warmer winter than others.
Growth rate: It is a relatively rapidly growing and easily flowering species that will make clumps given the best conditions.
Soils: It likes very porous mineral cactus mix soil, pH 7,5 to 8,5 (mildly alkaline), but can become too elongated if compost is too rich.
Repotting: This plant needs plenty of space for its roots, repotting should be done every other year or when the it has outgrown its pot. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: It needs regular watering, especially during the hottest summer days; provide also some light watering if the green house temperatures in winter are elevated. Either excessive or very scarce watering can induce rot.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Frost Tolerance: For safe cultivation it is best to avoid freezing temperatures (minimum 5° C). In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!!
Growing practices: The pencil- like stem grows over a meter long and racks or other long cane-like structures are needed to climb up.
Sun Exposure: Best for half-shade but grow well in full sun and shade too. Tends to bronze in strong light, which encourages flowering, but is likely to suffer from sun scorch or stunted growth if over exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day in summer.
Diseases: This species is relatively resistant to cryptogamic diseases than others and is quite resistant to the “Balck spot” disease of Asclepiads. Rot it is only a minor problem with Ceropegia stapeliiformisSN|22160]]SN|22160]] if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. Cascading, clustering, great for a hanging display.
Propagation: Seeds and cuttings. The downwards growing stick-like mottled branches root easily in regular well drained Cactus mix. Cuttings will root only in hot weather. Cuttings must be kept very dry to root. Seeds germinate readily if they are sown when fresh.