Orbea is a stapeliad genus of about 56 species, occurring from southern and eastern Africa into Arabia. Members of Ceropegieae, they are distinguished by their star-shaped flowers with a distinct central ring, the feature referenced in the name Orbea. The flowers can be showy and usually stand out strongly against the pale stems, which are often marked with distinctive splotchy pigmentation, mottled with purples and red dots. This allows certain species to be recognizable even when not in bloom. The succulent stems resemble those of allied genera but are somewhat more fragile. Some breakage in transit may be inevitable, though the plants regenerate quickly. This species from the populous Arusha region of Tanzania may appear to have inconspicuous flowers compared to others in the genus, but they are in fact quite distinct, with a small tube at the center of each bloom. Despite their delicate look, the deep red star complements the sharply angular stems and makes the whole plant a satisfying arrangement.
