BRACHYSTELMA MEYERIANUM

This member of the Asclepiadaceae* family was described by Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter in 1896. It is only found in the Cape Province, South Africa, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. The caudex can grow up to seven centimetres in diameter, the branches will grow up to 20 centimetres. The hairy flowers are crème colour over light green to brown.

The genera name from Greek; brachys meaning 'short', and stelma means 'crown, garland, wreath'; alluding to the short staminal corona of some species. The species is named after Ernst Heinrich Friedrich Meyer, 1791-1858, a German botanist. *)Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Asclepiadaceae is now part of the Apocynaceae.