From the Northern and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa, Huernia insigniflora is a short stemmed branching Stapeliad with a flower type unique to several other Huernias. In fact an earlier name was Huernia confusa, for the confusion that arose from it's close appearance to H. humilis and in my opinion H. zebrina. The flower bears a raised donut shaped structure called an annulus. It looks like a "Lifesaver" hence the common name.
     I acquired a couple rooted cuttings of this last fall from Shoal Creek Succulents. I nursed them through the winter in the greenhouse and watered them in the spring. But didn't see any real growth till the rain arrived. One or two real drenchings with rain water and they've taken off! My first flower opened on the 17th 0f July 2006. I can't say I'm in any way dissapointed. Click the thumbnails below for other pictures.

First flower pic

A closeup

Closeup of corolla