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
C18: from New Latin, named after J. B. van Stapel, (died 1636), Dutch botanist
stapelia in American English
(stəˈpiliə; stəˈpiljə)
noun
any of a genus (Stapelia) of cactuslike African plants of the milkweed family, with large, star-shaped, bad-smelling, yellowish or purple flowers
Word origin
ModL, after Jan Bode van Stapel (died 1636), Du botanist and physician