Pachypodium lamerei

Madagascar Palm ( Pachypodium lamerei ) in its natural habitat

The Madagascar palm ( Pachypodium lamerei ) belongs to the genus Pachypodium within the family of the dogbane family ( Apocynaceae ). Rarely it is also referred to as Dickfuß and has been with the palm trees, apart from the German trivial name Madagascar palm, but nothing in common. This succulent plant is native to Madagascar and is listed in CITES Appendix II. They are used as a houseplant.

Description

Pachypodium lamerei is a deciduous during the dry season succulent plant. The conical, scarcely branched and thorn -studded trunk serves as a water reservoir. It can be a plant height of over 2 meters in culture, can be achieved outdoors of up to 6 meters. In groups of three stem from a " wart " the alternate and crested like the trunk arranged leaves with a 3-4 cm long petiole. The dark green, leathery leaf blade is linear with a length of about 25 cm and a width of about 3 cm and has bright midribs.

The hermaphrodite flowers are radial symmetry and fünfzählig double perianth. The five white petals are fused funnel-shaped.

System

The first description of Pachypodium lamerei was made in 1899 by Emmanuel Drake del Castillo in Bulletin du Muséum d' Histoire Naturelle, 5, pp. 308-309. Synonyms for Pachypodium lamerei Drake are: Pachypodium champenoisianum Boiteau, Pachypodium lamerei var ramosum ( Costantin & Bois ) Pichon, Pachypodium menabeum Leandri, Pachypodium ramosum Costantin & Bois, Pachypodium rutenbergianum fo. lamerei ( Drake ) Poiss.