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Monadenium is a genus of about 50 species related to the Poinsettia family of Euphorbia. Almost all the species are native to tropical East Africa but oddly there are none in Madagascar. This is a highly varied group that can have a tuber and a skimpy annual growth structure that dies when the plant goes dormant, or some that are up to 18’ tall small trees! Monadenium rubellum, or known by its common name of Red Monadenium, is one of the smaller, more collectable types with a swollen tuber-like base known as a caudex, the sole purpose of which is to store water for the plant in an exceedingly harsh environment. Coming from the Machakos District of Kenya, that is exactly the type of conditions the Red Monadenium must endure. This semi-woody base can be perfectly round and globe-like as a turnip or can be quite free-formed and have multiple sections. Arising from this base are thin, succulent, hanging stems marked with reddish-brown stripes. The stretched oval succulent leaves are green on one side and pink-red on the other. The plants are more red when exposed to more sun light, and turn entirely green in the shade. The small pink-red flowers, like all Monadenium flowers, resemble a very exotic type of orchid. In cultivation the plants are quite tough and remain in leaf and flower almost continuously. They can go dormant and drop the leaves and flowers in the winter. As to care for the Red Monadenium and Monadeniums in general, they should be kept warm in winter (temperatures above 50 degrees F.) and are usually deciduous. Keep on the dry side when dormant, but feed and water regularly when the plant is in leaf. Most look best when grown in bright indirect light (especially for the best color!), but shade is generally tolerated. Their only real demand is a fast draining soil – a 50/50 mix of Perlite to potting soil is great. The Red Monadenium also looks nice in hanging pots where the foliage and small but exotically intriguing flowers can be allowed to cascade down.