Alluaudia comosa

Alluaudia comosa is a rare species of flowering plant. It belongs to the family Didiereaceae, subfamily Didiereoideae, which is found only in the coastal area of SW Madagascar.[2] Didierea comosa Drake is a synonym.[3] It is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1]

Alluaudia comosa
In Tsimanampetsotsa National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Didiereaceae
Genus: Alluaudia
Species:
A. comosa
Binomial name
Alluaudia comosa
(Drake) Drake

Description

Alluaudia comosa has a distinctive, easily recognized silhouette with a short trunk and dense branches that stop in a flat crown.[4] This is a deciduous shrub to small tree 2-6 (-10) metres tall[4] that is woody, semi-succulent and spiny, with spines set singly.[2] Spines are grey and 1.5-3.5 cm long.[4]

Leaves are developed mostly in pairs, set on a short stalk (petiole), dying off at the beginning of the dry season.[2] They are rounded (10–22 mm X 10 mm) and fleshy.[4]

Flowers

Flowers are produced on a reduced inflorescence in Alluaudia comosa; only the end flower develops, and is set on a very short axis. Flowers are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants).[2]

Habitat

This species grows on limestone in dry forests or coastal shrubland.[1]

References
  1. Ramanantsialonina, R.N. (2019). "Alluaudia comosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T128093611A128098554. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. Rauh, W. 1983. The morphology and systematic position of the Didiereaceae of Madagascar. Bothalia 14(3/4): 839–843.
  3. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Jul 2019 <http://www.tropicos.org/Name/10700002>
  4. Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Didiereaceae/35431/Alluaudia_comosa>
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.