Pachypodium rosulatum

Pachypodium rosulatum, common name elephant's foot plant, belongs to the family Apocynaceae.

Pachypodium rosulatum
P. rosulatum in Isalo N. P., Madagascar
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Pachypodium
Species:
P. rosulatum
Binomial name
Pachypodium rosulatum
Baker 1882
Synonyms
  • Pachypodium cactipes K. Schum. 1895.
  • Pachypodium drakei Costantin & Bois
  • Pachypodium rosulatum drakei (Costantin & Bois ) Marckgr.

Description

Pachypodium rosulatum is a shrubby perennial caudiciform plant with a bottle-shaped trunk, brownish silver and almost spineless, about 10–15 centimetres (3.9–5.9 in) wide and about 20–35 centimetres (7.9–13.8 in) tall. From the caudex depart many thorny cylindrical arms, forming a shrub about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) tall. The leaves, which fall in the dry season, form a rosette on the top of branches. They are deciduous, dark green, oblanceolate, ovate or elliptical and petiolated. The long-stalked flowers are sulphur-yellow and form an inflorescence about 30 centimetres (12 in) high. Flowering period extends from February through May. The fruits are 6 to 20 inches long and contain elongated seeds with a length of 6 mm.

Distribution

This plant is native to Madagascar and it is widespread on the central plateau.

Habitat

These plants prefer sunny and stony areas. The succulent caudex and the underground tuberous enable the plant to tolerate long periods of drought.

References
    • Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. London 20:219. 1882
    • "Pachypodium rosulatum". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
    • Rapanarivo SHJV, Lavranos JJ, Leeuwenberg AJM Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): taxonomy, habitats and cultivation CRC Press, 1999
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