Alluaudia montagnacii

Alluaudia montagnacii is a rare species of flowering plants belonging to the family Didiereaceae.

Alluaudia montagnacii
Alluaudia montagnacii at the botanical garden of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Genova Pegli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Didiereaceae
Genus: Alluaudia
Species:
A. montagnacii
Binomial name
Alluaudia montagnacii
Rauh

Description

Branch and leaves of Alluaudia montagnacii, Genova Pegli

Alluaudia montagnacii can reach a height of 2.4–6 metres (7 ft 10 in–19 ft 8 in). The tall columnar central trunk sprouts strong vertical branches. Stem and branches have symmetrically arranged leaves, about 1.5 cm long, and black-tipped thorns, 2–2.5 cm long. Leaves are deciduous in the long dry season. Photosynthesis is carried on by the stems. This plant is well adapted to live where water is a limiting environmental factor. The flowers are small, green or yellow.

Distribution

This plant is endemic to southwestern plain of Madagascar.

Habitat

Alluaudia montagnacii grows in small arid and subarid areas in a narrow belt of the coast. It is part of the Madagascar spiny forests, where it forms a specific plant community with Euphorbia intisy and Euphorbia stenoclada.

References


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