PENTAGONANTHUS GRANDIFLORUS

This member of the Asclepiadaceae* family was given this name by Arthur Allman Bullock in 1962. It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, growing in grit or other well drained soil with some water and some to lots of sun, in dry forests openings. The caudex can grow to six or even twelve centimetres in diameter, the whole plant up to 60 centimetres in height. The flowers are violet to blue, and besides from seeds, this plant might be reproduced by cuttings.

The genera name means 'five angled thorn'. The species name after the large flowers - for that genera. The subspecies; Pentagonanthus grandiflorus ssp. glabrescens, Bullock is, as the name imply; hairless. *)Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Asclepiadaceae is now part of the Apocynaceae.