Didiereaceae Archives - enjoysucculents

Alluaudia comosa

Because of its typical habit, even young plants of this species are easily recognized. Over time, they will grow into a densely branched shrub or small tree, 2-6 (-10) m tall, with usually 2, divergent, stems and dense branches that end in a flat, often cushion-like, crown. The species name refers to this shape (comosa = wearing a crest, crested).
The branches are very thorny with grey, 1.5-3.5 cm long spines.
The fleshy leaves are usually developed in pairs on a short stalk and fade at the beginning of the dry season. They are egg-shaped to more or less round (1–2.2 cm x 1 cm).
The white flowers are dioecious; in other words: they are either male or female and occur on separate plants.

A. comosa grows on limestone in dry forests or coastal thicket in
S. and SW. Madagascar ( Toliara to Taolanaro).

Common name: Somondratsaky

Alluaudia dumosa (Rohondroho)

In a family full of peculiar plants, this species stands out because of its rod-like branches.

It grows into a tree or shrub 2-8 m tall with ascending branches, (which are the main assimilation organs for this species). The branches are purplish-grey to grey-green in colour and covered with small black conical spines up to 3 mm. long.
The fleshy, dark green leaves are simple and alternate, very small (5-10 mm long and 2-3 mm in diameter), and short-lived.
The whitish flowers are produced in small compact inflorescences near the tips of the stems.

Occurring in Southwest Madagascar between Ampanihy and Amboasary.

Alluaudia procera (Fantsiolitse)

The 6 species in the genus Alluaudia produce two forms of vegetative growth:
-long shoots with paired leaves sticking out above the spines and
-short lateral shoots, arising below the spines and also able to produce leaves.
Male and female flowers are gathered in branched inflorescences arising from the short shoots near the tips of the long branches.

A. procera starts as a shrub, but over time turns into a tree up to 10 m (sometimes even to 15 m) tall, with a broad trunk and more or less vertical branches. These branches are silver-grey and armed with conical spines which are (1-2.5 cm long and arranged vertically in lines that spiral upwards to the branch tips. The leaf blades are oriented to a vertical (in profile) position, thereby reducing overheating by sunlight.
The flowers are very small and yellowish-white.

This is the most widespread species in the genus, occurring in south and southwest Madagascar, mostly in coastal habitats on both acid and alkaline soils.
In cultivation, it is the most common member of the family. It is not only the most easily grown one, but it is also quick growing and easy to propagate from seed and cuttings. These properties make it attractive to use young specimens as stock to graft Didierea madagascariensis on.

Didierea madagascariensis (sogno)

Of the two species of Didierea (the other one is D. trollii), this is by far the most widespread and best-known. It occurs abundantly on red sandy soils in SW Madagascar, from the dry spiny bush in the Toliara area northwards to the Morondava river.
D. madagascariensis has quite a distinctive growth form: the single trunk is up to 0.5 m thick and 6 m or more tall; it is generally unbranched up to 2 m high.
The branches usually grow more or less upright and are often curved towards the top; the short lateral shoots give rise to clusters of very long spines (up to 12 cm) and groups of short-lived, greyish green and narrow leaves (7-15 cm long and 0.3-1 cm wide).
The inflorescences may cover extensive areas of the upper branches. The numerous unisexual flowers are pale yellowish to greenish-red and open only during sunny weather between 10 am and 2 pm to be pollinated by bees.
In cultivation, the plants are often propagated by grafting a short-shoot on a strong plant of Alluaudia procera, thereby producing nice specimens within 3 to 4 years.

Euphorbia stenoclada (samata)

Although this easily recognised species is known as the most thorny Euphorbia of Madagascar, it is the most important fodder resource for livestock during the dry season in the area where it occurs naturally. For this reason, it is now being propagated by cuttings to increase production.
It grows into a much-branched tree up to 4.5 m tall. Especially in the young stage, the branch tips taper into sharp thorns. The leaves are much reduced and short-lived.
The species is common in open forest on limestone or sandy soils in the south and southwest of the island, within a distance of about 50 km from the ocean (the coastal plain of the Mahafaly plateau region).