Madagascar ocotillo
Alluaudia procera
Fantsiolitse family (Didiereaceae)
Whip bush
This plant is known only to Madagascar. Together with a small number of other similarly shaped species this plant forms the so-called ‘thorn brush’. The plants look like ‘whips’ stuck in the ground. The stem grows, unbranched, to a height of 18 m. Sunlight is reflected by the light grey stem and the leaves are held vertically to absorb as little light as possible and prevent overheating. The leaves drop during the dry season and new leaves only appear after the rains.
The spines of the Alluaudia procera serve not only to defend against foraging animals but at night they help condense water that then drips onto the ground. Despite bearing spines, lemurs are still able to feed on the leaves and stem.
Themes
Crown jewel in the Zuidas Botanic Garden.
According to local people from Madagascar the stem was often sawn into rough boards and used to make buildings. Furthermore the wood, called 'fantsilotra', was also made into boxes and crates; since the wood is odourless boxes for tobacco and vanilla were also made from it in the past. It is used as firewood and for the production of charcoal.
The trunk is white and covered with rows of white, tapering thorns.
Details
Description: | Succulent, columnar tree, 6-15 m in height and up to 15 cm in diameter |
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Distributions: | Madagascar |
Habitat: | Dry scrub and forest. |
Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic decidous) |
Hardiness: | 34 - 41 f (tender - cool or frost-free glasshouse) |
Flower color: | White, yellow |
Notes on flowers: | Dense clusters of yellowish white flowers occur at the branch tips; male and female flowers occur on separate individuals (dioecious). |
Notes on fruits: | One-seeded, 2-3 mm long fruits. |