stapelia

[ stuh-pee-lee-uh ]
/ stəˈpi li ə /

noun

any of various plants of the genus Stapelia, of the milkweed family, native to southern Africa, having short, fleshy, leafless stems, and flowers that are oddly colored or mottled and in most species emit a fetid, carrionlike odor.

Origin of stapelia

1775–85; < New Latin, after J. B. van Stapel (died 1636), Dutch botanist; see -ia

Words nearby stapelia

stanton, elizabeth cady, stanza, stapedectomy, stapedial, stapediotenotomy, stapelia, stapes, stapes-mobilization operation, staph, staphylectomy, staphyledema

British Dictionary definitions for stapelia

stapelia
/ (stəˈpiːlɪə) /

noun

any fleshy cactus-like leafless African plant of the asclepiadaceous genus Stapelia, having thick four-angled stems and large typically fetid mottled flowers

Word Origin for stapelia

C18: from New Latin, named after J. B. van Stapel, (died 1636), Dutch botanist