Scientific Name
Pachypodium namaquanum (Wyley ex Harv.) Welw.
Common Name(s)
Elephant's Trunk, Club Foot, Halfmens (Afrikaans for Semi-Human)
Synonym(s)
Adenium namaquanum
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Apocynoideae
Tribe: Malouetieae
Genus: Pachypodium
Description
Pachypodium namaquanum is a slow-growing succulent with a cylindrical, simple or rarely branched stem covered with warty tubercles from which sharp spines protrude in a slightly downward direction. The stem grows 10 feet (3 m) tall and one foot (30 cm) in diameter. Leaves crowded at the apex of the trunk, forming a rosette. They are simple, obovate to oblong, grey-green, and densely velvety on both surfaces. Flowers are tubular, red inside, yellow-green outside, up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) in diameter, and appear in late winter and spring. The fruit of two follicular mericarps is densely grey pubescent, up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long, tapering to the apex.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10b to 11b: from 40 °F (+4.4 °C) to 45 °F (+7.2 °C).
How to Grow and Care
The three parameters, light, temperature, and watering, are closely linked: you should not change one without the other. Therefore, it is important to note that the balance of these three parameters determines the good or bad health of their plant. Pachypodiums need much light because they originally grow under full sun in tropical countries. Therefore, direct sunlight is not necessary, but the sunlight should not be shielded by natural view protection. A Pachypodium with low light will wither, its branches will be weak and appear "lean," and the leaves will be too big and soft. Over time the Pachypodium will be susceptible to disease and fungus, and the plant will eventually die.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Pachypodium.
Origin
This species is native to Namibia, South Africa (Cape Province).
Links
- Back to genus Pachypodium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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