stapelia is a genus of low-growing, spineless, stem succulent plants, predominantly from south africa with a few from other parts of africa. several asian and latin american species were formerly included but they have all now been transferred to other genera. the flowers of certain species, most notably "stapelia gigantea", can reach 41 cm (16 inches) in diameter when fully open. most "stapelia" flowers are visibly hairy and generate the odour of rotten flesh when they bloom; a notable exception is the sweetly scented "stapelia flavopurpurea". such odours serve to attract various specialist pollinators including, in the case of carrion-scented blooms, blow flies of the dipteran family calliphoridae. they frequently lay eggs around the coronae of "stapelia" flowers, convinced by the plants' deception.