Uncarina stellulifera

Uncarina stellulifera

Family: Pedaliaceae

Native to Madagascar. It is a succulent shrub or small tree that grows 1 to 2,5, occasionally to 3.5 metres tall with a dense crown of erect swollen branches. The leaves are lobed, ovate-triangular in shape white hairs and long petioles. The flowers appear solitary or in pairs, they have a long corolla with a whitish-pink tube with veins that are crimson red inside and brown in the throat, and a pink-lilac lobe, but plants with prolonged flowering period.

Sowing instructions:

1. Prepare the Seeds

• Optional but helpful: Scarify the seeds lightly by rubbing them with fine sandpaper or nicking the seed coat. This helps water penetrate and speeds up germination.

• Soak the seeds in warm water for 12–24 hours before sowing to soften the outer coat.

 2. Soil Mix

Use a well-draining mix, such as:

• 50% cactus soil or potting mix

• 25% coarse sand or perlite

• 25% pumice or fine gravel

🔍 You can also use a succulent-specific mix amended with extra drainage materials.

3. Sowing the Seeds

• Fill small pots or seed trays with the prepared mix.

• Place seeds on the surface and cover lightly (1–2 mm) with soil or sand — they need light but not full exposure to germinate.

• Mist the surface to moisten evenly.

4. Ideal Conditions for Germination

• Temperature: Warm — 22–28°C (72–82°F) is ideal.

• Humidity: Moderate; cover pots with plastic wrap or a humidity dome, but vent daily to avoid fungal issues.

• Light: Bright indirect light or filtered sun. Avoid intense midday sun on young seedlings.

🕰 Germination time: Usually 2 to 4 weeks, though it can take up to 2 months.

Locality: Atsimo-Andrefana, Madagascar. Harvest: March 2025