Huernia zebrina ssp. magniflora (Phillips) L.C. Leach 1988 is a tropical, succulent plant from the Stapeliae tribe. The Huernia zebrina subspecies magniflora with its star-shaped, colourful flower is maybe the most beautiful of the whole Huernia genus. The flower can reach a size of about 8 cm in diameter. Huernia zebrina is native to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. We found that amazing plant at Kamthieng flower market in Chiang Mai, North Thailand. The shop keeper, a young, beautiful Thai girl showed us the strange looking flower. We asked her, if she knows the botanical name.

She said the plant is called “Donut jai”, means “big Donut” and she also has a small Donut (Donut lek), which isn´t in bloom, yet. The Huernia zebrina flower is looking artificial, more as a plastic flower, than a real one. Photographer Nat thought I´m fooling him, while I told him to take a picture of that flower.

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Image: Huernia zebrina ssp. magniflora (Phillips) L.C. Leach 1988
Photgrapher: Kitisak “Nat” Jaidee