starfish flower: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist/Botanical)Specialist/Technical (Botany, Horticulture), occasionally Informal (among gardening enthusiasts)
Quick answer
What does “starfish flower” mean?
A flowering plant of the Stapelia genus, whose bloom resembles a marine starfish in shape and often in colour/texture.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A flowering plant of the Stapelia genus, whose bloom resembles a marine starfish in shape and often in colour/texture.
Any of several succulent plants, typically from arid regions of southern Africa, known for their distinctive, often foul-smelling, star-shaped flowers that attract fly pollinators.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties. The plant is less common in general horticulture, so the term is largely confined to specialist contexts.
Connotations
Conveys exoticism, peculiar beauty, and sometimes a mild grotesqueness due to the flower's odour and unusual form.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK gardening publications due to historical colonial plant exchanges.
Grammar
How to Use “starfish flower” in a Sentence
The [Adj] starfish flower [verbs: blooms, smells, attracts]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “starfish flower” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The starfish flower on the windowsill has put out a new, rather malodorous bloom.
- He collects stapeliads, and his prize specimen is a magnificent starfish flower.
American English
- That starfish flower smells like rotting meat to attract its pollinators.
- I found a picture of a starfish flower in my botany book.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in niche horticultural trade.
Academic
Used in botanical texts and papers on pollination syndromes (sapromyiophily).
Everyday
Very rare. Used by knowledgeable gardeners or in documentaries about unusual plants.
Technical
Correct in horticultural and botanical descriptions, though the genus name 'Stapelia' is more precise.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “starfish flower”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “starfish flower”
- Using it as a common name for unrelated star-shaped flowers (e.g., certain Pentas or clematis species).
- Confusing it with 'sea star' which is the animal.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a terrestrial succulent plant from arid regions. The name comes from the shape of its flower, which resembles a marine starfish.
It emits a carrion scent to attract fly and beetle pollinators that are normally drawn to decaying flesh or dung for egg-laying.
Yes, as a potted succulent, but be prepared for its distinctive odour when it blooms. It requires well-draining soil, plenty of light, and minimal water.
No, it is a common name. The scientific genus is typically Stapelia, part of the Apocynaceae family.
A flowering plant of the Stapelia genus, whose bloom resembles a marine starfish in shape and often in colour/texture.
Starfish flower is usually specialist/technical (botany, horticulture), occasionally informal (among gardening enthusiasts) in register.
Starfish flower: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɑː.fɪʃ ˌflaʊ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɑːr.fɪʃ ˌflaʊ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a starfish that got bored of the ocean, climbed onto land, and turned into a pungent, beautiful flower on a succulent.
Conceptual Metaphor
OCEAN CREATURE FOR DESERT PLANT (highlighting unexpected similarity across domains).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'starfish flower' MOST appropriately used?