Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Alluaudia

Family: Didiereaceae (Didierea)

Distribution: Madagascar

Habitat: acidic soils over crystalline bedrock, mainly on sandy loams and red sands

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Life form: Succulent plant

Comments: Alluaudia humbertii is endemic to the spiny forest region of southern Madagascar. A succulent that can be either bush or grow into a small tree, reaching heights maximum heights of 7 m. The thin, twisted branches are covered in slender, isolated thorns. The small, fleshy leaves occur in pairs below the thorns. Being deciduous, A. humbertii drops its leaves during the dry months. Come the rainy season, new leaves develop. The small flowers are pale-green and are carried at the end of the branches. The male and female flowers of A. humbertii grow on separate plants, making it dioeceous.