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'''''Pachypodium''''' is a [[genus]] included in the plant [[Family (biology)|Family]] [['''Apocynaceae'''']]. The genus name means '''thick''' (''pachy'') '''foot''' (''podium'') and refers to the thick, almost branchless stems. Members of the '''Apocynaceae''' family can have either clear or a milkey, white latex, as is the case for a relative often associated with '''Pachypodium''' '''Adenium''''. On the other hand, '''Pachypodium''' always have clear sap.<sup>1</sup> Both genre are highly poisonness. The first species described by Lindley is '''''Pachypodium tuberosum''''', which is a synonym for today's '''''Pachypodium succulentum''''' (L.f.) A. DC.
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The genus '''''Pachypodium''''', according to S.H.J.V Rapanarivo and A. J. M. Leeuwenberg in '''<u>Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): Taxonomy, Habitats and Cultivation</u>''' in the '''''<u> Abstract</u>''''' of '''''"Taxonomic revision of Pachypodium: Series of Revisions of Apocynaceae XLVIII"''''' suggest similar yet minor differences in the taxonomical record of species than what is apparently published in '''<u>Trees of Southern Africa</u>''' by A. van Wyk and P. van Wyk. It lists <u>twenty-three</u> species, where <u>eighteen</u> are endemic to Madagascar and <u>five</u> occur in the continental Africa--''Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.'' In 1999, the publication for '''<u>Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): Taxonomy, Habitats and Cultivation</u>''' is the work of several authors: S.H.J.V Rapanarivo, J.J. Lavranos, A.J.M. Leeuwenberg, and W. Röösli: ['''''Hence referenced as '''''<u>Rapanarivo et al.</u>''''']('''"Taxonomic Revision of the genus Pachypodium''') S.H.J.V Rapanarivo and A.J.M. Leeuwenberg; ('''The habitats of Pachypodium species''') S.H.J.V Rapanarivo; AND ('''Cultivation''') W. Röösli) This work, besides any subsequent, relevant journal articles, seems to be the most current "authority" on the genus '''''Pachypodium.''''' Rapanarivo and Leeuwenberg give a better account of the key species to the genus '''''Pachypodium.'''''
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==='''<u>A Brief History of the Genus</u>'''===
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The history of the genus begins with Lindley in 1830 as the author of the genus '''''Pachypodium.''''' His taxonomical ranking is based on a single species identified as '''''P. tuberosum''''' (1), which he thought was '''''<u>Echites succulenta</u>''''' (2) L.f., which was identified in 1781. Seemingly, then, the newer genus '''''Pachypodium''''' is acquired from the older genus '''''Echites'''''.
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In 1837, on the other hand, G. Don. cited '''''<u>E. succulenta</u>''''' (2) as a taxonomical synonym of the species he identified as '''''P. tomentosum''''' (3). This species of '''''Pachypodium''''' is the only species he readily maintains. So, in the same listing, G. Don. classifies '''''P. glabrum''''' (4) as a species, but labeled it under '''''Echites bispinosa''''' (5) L.f as a ''<u>basionym</u>'', which is a name that has ''priority'' over other names later given to the same plant by different authors. That is to say, then, that '''''Echites bispinosa''''' (5) has priority over '''''Pachypodium glabrum''''' (4). Also G. Don. moved to reduce '''''P. tuberosum''''' (1) Lindl. to a synonym of '''''Echites bispinosa''''' (5); a synonym occurs when one of two or more names are used for the same taxon rank of a plant--or, better said, a synonym ''is a rejected name due to misapplication or difference in taxonomic judgment.'' Therefore, it would seem, the newer genus '''''Pachypodium''''' under G. Don. takes apparently a lesser priority taxonomically in the ranking of names to the older '''''Echites''''' genus. Both '''''P. tuberosum'''''(1) Lindl. and '''''P. glabrum''''' (4) are reduced taxonomically--''one by a ''basionym'' and the other by a ''synonym. Yet, even to G. Don. '''''P. tomentosum''''' (3) remains as a species.
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In 1844; however, the '''''Pachypodium''''' genus is redefined again. A. de Candolle delineated '''''Pachypodium succulentum''''' (6) based on the apparent earlier taxonomical relationship between the two VALID taxonomical species '''''<u>Echites succulenta</u>''''' (2) AND '''''<u>P. tomentosum</u>''''' (3) G. Don. Moreover, he describes a second species considered to be '''''P. bispinosum''''' (7), even though it has an apparent <u>basionym</u> of '''''E. bispinosum''''' L.f. Furthermore A. de Candolle maintains that '''''P. glabrum''''' G. Don. is a synonym to '''''P. bispinosum''''' (7) [edit: Doesn't '''''P. glabrum''''' (4) G. Don. has having less priorty as a name to the identification of '''''Echites bispinosa''''' (5). . . ?]. The last taxonomical move A. de Candolle accepted, according to Rapanarivo et al., is the further delineated '''''P. tuberosum''''' (1) Lindl. into a variety form. He modifies this species by adding the taxonomical rank '''variety''' to the species as '''variety''' '''''loddigessii''''' (1A). In 1963, Codd cited '''''P. tuberosum''''' var. '''''loddigessii''''' (1A) as a synonym for '''''P. bispinosum'''''(7) A. de Candolle.
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Historically the next species were identified by Welwitsch in 1867 and 1871 accordingly '''''P. namaquanum''''' (8) and '''''P. lealii''''' (9) (the above mentioned bottle tree); as well as '''''P. saundersii''''' (10) by N.E. Br in 1892. Another well known member (genus) of '''Apocynaceae''' is brought to attention as a synonym for '''''P. namaquanum''''' (11) (Wyley ex Harv.). That early citation listed '''''P. namaquanum''''' (Wyley ex Harv.) (11) as '''''<u>Adenium</u> namaquanum''''' (12) Wyley ex Harv. in 1863, an aberrant move considering the obvious morphological differences between '''''Adenium''''' and '''''Pachypodium'''''.
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Baker in 1892 contributed the first species accepted into the genus from Madagascar as '''''P. rosulatum''''' (13). Based on Rapanarivo et al.'s work, Madagascar with its more isolated habitats and specialized ecosystems as compared to the broadly defined habitats of mainland Southern Africa will thus become a major source for ''''variety'''' of species in '''''Pachypodium'''''. ['''See Below Habitats of Pachypodium of Madagascar''''] After Baker, Vatke added '''''P. rutenbergianum''''' (14) in 1885, '''''P. brevicaule''''' (15) Baker in 1887, as well as '''''P. densiflorum''''' (16)--all Madagascar species.
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Of importance, Costantin and Bois in 1907 constructed the first, rather, complete treatment of '''''Pachypodium'''''. In their account, Costantin and Bois enumerated <u>seventeen</u> species; where <u>ten</u> were from Madagascar and <u>seven</u> were from Continental Southern Africa. In 1934, however, after another account of the genus by Perrier de la Bâthie, '''''Pachypodium''''' was, according to Rapanarivo et al., distinguished by <u>twenty</u> species with <u>fourteen</u> from Madagascar and <u>six</u> from Continental Southern Africa. Much later, in 1976, Markgraf accepted <u>seventeen</u> species, where <u>twelve</u> derive from Madagascar as the other <u>five</u> come from Continental Africa.
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New species have been added since 1976. Lavranos--''co-author of Rapanarivo et al.''--identified '''''P. inopinatum''''' (17) in 1996 and later in 1997 contributed both '''''P. eburneum''''' (18) and '''''P. bicolor''''' (19) In the reference '''<u>Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): Taxonomy, Habitats and Cultivation</u>,''' Rapanarivo et al. in 1999 reviewed the ''variety'' rank of many species and revised the speciation of '''''Pachypodium''''' by adjusting (I) '''''P. baronii''''' (20) var. '''''windsorii''''' (21) to '''''P. windsorii''''' (22) AND (II) '''''P. rosulatum''''' (23) var. '''''gracilius''''' (24) to '''''P. gracilius''''' (25). In other words, the aforementioned ''varieties'' were raised to ''species rank.'' Also '''''P. cactipes''''' (26), which Markgraf in 1976 reduces to a synonym of '''''P. rosulatum''''' (23), Rapanarivo et al. reinstated it as a distinct species.
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In the '''Cactus and Succulent Journal (USA)''', March-April 2004, Lavranos added a new species from the little visited Makay Mountains in Madagascar. He identified it as '''''P. makayense''''', with the condition that, despite naming a new species, he held reservations about the use of "''infrageneric rank where affinities are not entirely clear'' (Lavranos, "Summery" p. 75.)" So, in other words, the status of '''''P. makayense''''' is published but not entirely settled. It awaits further reassessment by (I) supplementary, adequate documentation; AND (II) molecular work on infra-generic (species) relationships within the genus '''Pachypodium''' as a whole. But for practical reasons; however, Lavranos decided that this taxon should be documented and stated as a species so that the advancement of speciation of '''''Pachypodium''''' can be understood given the taxon's distinct, singular characteristics and geological ___location. '''''P. makayense''''' resembles '''''P. densiflorum''''' "with its thick, irregularly disposed branches" (Lavranos p. 88). Yet '''''P. makayense''''' differs widely from '''''P. densiflorum''''' by its spinescence'--''having a spine or spines''--and in the form of the flower. It is closest to '''''P. gracilius''''' but is distinguished by its heavier branches, its larger flowers, and its white spots at the base of the corolla--''the inner whorl of the perianth or collectively all the flower's petals''. Geographically the southernmost known locality of '''''P. makayense''''' is 50 km from the northernmost known range of '''''P. gracilius''''', which grows on sandstone south of the Mangoky River. This distance is characterized by a geologically ancient and deep depression of the Mangoky River. (Paragraph: Lavranos, p. 88)
Lastly it should be noted that there often exists a disparity between scientific, botanical accounts versus cultivated, horticultural assessments in succulent nurseries and between passionate collectors of the genus '''Pachypodium'''--''as well as other '''''esteemed''''' plants.'' It would seem that the science of botany is guided by finding, or not finding, meaningful generalizations between taxon constituted a generic--''inter-species''--speciation concept. Nurseries, on the other hand, are often guided by finding any possible difference that (I) once was so named possibly (synonym) OR (II) is now presumed to be a new species (n. n.). This attention to characteristics of a taxon that are deemed not botanically reducible by horticulturalists makes for a vast array sensitive to the slightest difference in species; ''even if these differences have been demonstrated as having no taxonomical significance or have been reduced to synonymy by botanists''. Several debates between scientific botanists, market-orientated horticulturalists, and interested collectors exist over taxon. Recently they are as follows for Pachypodium:
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(I) The reduction of '''''P. ramosum''''' Costantin and Bois or '''''P. lamerei''''' '''var.''' '''''ramosum''''' (Costantin and Bois) Pichon to '''''P. lamerei''''' Drake, where '''''P. ramosum''''' branches considerably more than '''''P. lamerei''''' Drake;
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(II) The reduction of '''''P. menabeum''''' Leandri to '''''P. lamerei''''' Drake, where '''''P. menabeum''''' Leandri is significantly different than '''''P. lamerei''''' Drake in ''morphology'';
(III) The exclusion or synonymy of '''''P. rosulatum''''' '''var.''' '''''drakei''''' (Costantin and Bois) Markgr. or '''''P. drakei''''' Costantin and Bois to '''''P. rosulatum''''' Baker;
(IV) The exclusion or synonymy of '''''P. brevicalyx''''' (H. Perrier) Pichon or '''''P. densiflorum''''' '''var.''' '''''brevicalyx''''' H. Perrier to '''''P. densiflorum''''' Baker
(V) The species rank of '''''P. griquense''''' L. Bolus when reduced to '''''P. succulentum''''' (L.f.) A. DC.
<sup>1</sup> ''Correction.'' Earilier it was writtten: "As other members of the '''Apocynaceae''' family, '''''Pachypodium''''' possess a milky latex, rich in alkaloids, which, in the case of [[Bottle tree|'''''P. lealii''''']] (bottle tree), can be very poisonous." According to '''Rapanarivo et al''' this statement is inaccurate. As '''Rapanarivo et al''' write in '''<u>Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): Taxonomy, Habitats and Cultivation</u>''', . . . '''''Adenium''''' species have either clear sap or white latex. '''''Pachypodium''''' has . . . always clear sap." ('''Rapanarivo et al''', p. 5)
==<u>Species</u>==
(01) '''''P. ambongense''''' Poiss. [Madagascar] <br>
(02) '''''P. baronii''''' Costantin and Bois [Madagascar] <br>
(03) '''''P. bicolor''''' Lavranos and Rapanarivo [Madagascar]<br>
(04) '''''P. bispinosum '''''(L.f.) A. DC. [Southern Continental Africa] <br>
(xx) '''''P. brevicalyx''''' (H. Perrier) Pichon or '''''P. densiflorum''''' var. '''''brevicalyx''''' H. Perrier >>>Rapanarivo et al. synonymy for '''''P. densiflorum''''' Baker <br>
(05) '''''P. brevicaule''''' Baker [Madagascar] <br>
(06) '''''P. cactipes''''' K. Schum [Madagascar] >>>According to Rapanarivo et al. no longer a synonym for '''''P. rosulatum''''' <br>
(07) '''''P. decaryi''''' Poiss. [Madagascar] <br>
(08) '''''P. densiflorum''''' Baker [Madagascar] <br>
(09) '''''P. eburneum''''' Lavranos and Rapanarivo [Madagascar] <br>
(10) '''''P. geayi''''' Costantin and Bois [Madagascar] <br>
(11) '''''P. gracilius''''' (H. Perrier) Rapanarivo [Madagascar] <br>
(12) '''''P. horombense''''' Poiss. [Madagascar] <br>
(13) '''''P. inopinatum''''' Lavranos [Madagascar] <br>
(14) '''''[[Madagascar palm|P. lamerei (Madagascar palm)]]''''' Drake [Madagascar] <br>
(15) '''''[[Bottle tree|P. lealii (Bottle tree)]]''''' Welw. [Southern Continental Africa] <br>
(16) '''''P. makayense''''' Lavranos [Madagascar] <br>
(17) '''''P. meridionale''''' (H. Perrier) Pichon [Madagascar] <br>
(18) '''''[[Cobas tree|P. namaquanum (Cobas tree)]]''''' (Wyley ex Harv.) Welw.[Southern Continental Africa] <br>
(xx) '''''P. ramosum''''' >>> Rapanarivo et al. is a synonym for '''''P. lamerei'''''<br>
(19) '''''P. rosulatum''''' Baker [Madagascar] <br>
(20) '''''P. rutenbergianum''''' Vatke [Madagascar] <br>
(21) '''''P. saundersii''''' N.E. Br. >>> Rapanarivo et al. no longer a variety of '''''P. lealii'''''. [Southern Continental Africa] <br>
(22) '''''P. sofiense''''' (Poiss.) H. Perrier [Madagascar] <br>
(23) '''''P. succulentum''''' (L.f.) A. DC. [Southern Continental Africa] <br>
(24) '''''P. windsorii''''' Poiss. [Madagascar] <br>
==<u>Invalid Species or Variety Names</u>:== <u>According to Rapanarivo et al. 1999</u> <br>
'''''Pachypodium brevicalyx''''' (H. Perrier) Pichon >>> '''''P. densiflorum''''' Baker <br>
'''''P. densiflorum''''' var. '''''brevicalyx''''' H. Perrier >>> '''''P. densiflorum''''' Baker <br>
'''''P. champenoisianum''''' Boiteau >>>'''''P. lamerei''''' Drake <br>
'''''P. drakei''''' Costantin and Bois >>> '''''P. rosulatum''''' Baker <br>
'''''P. giganteum''''' Engl. >>> '''''P. lealii''''' Welw. <br>
'''''P. glabrum''''' G. Don >>> '''''P. bispinosum''''' (L.f.) A. DC. <br>
'''''P. griquense''''' L. Bolus >>> '''''P. succulentum''''' (L.f.) A. DC. <br>
'''''P. jasminiflorum''''' L. Bolus >>> '''''P. succulentum''''' (L.f.) A. DC. <br>
'''''P. lamerei''''' var. '''''ramosum''''' (Costantin and Bois) Pichon >>> '''''P. lamerei''''' Drake <br>
'''''P. lealii''''' subsp. '''''saundersii''''' (N.E. Br) G.D. Rowley >>> '''''P. saundersii''''' N.E. Br <br>
'''''P. menabeum''''' Leandri >>> '''''P. lamerei''''' Drake <br>
'''''P. obesum''''' G. Don ex A. DC. >>> <u>'''''Adenium obesum'''''</u> Roem. and Schult. <br>
'''''P. ramosum''''' Costantin and Bois >>> '''''P. lamerei''''' Drake <br>
'''''P.''''' x '''''rauhii''''' Halda >>> '''''P. densiflorum''''' Baker <br>
'''''P. rosulatum''''' var. '''''delphinense''''' H. Perrier >>> '''''P. cactipes''''' K. Schum. <br>
'''''P. rosulatum''''' var. '''''drakei''''' (Costantin and Bois) Markgr. >>> '''''P. rosulatum''''' Baker <br>
'''''P. rosulatum''''' var. '''''eburneum''''' (Lavranos and Rapanarivo) G.D. Rowley >>> '''''P. eburneum''''' Lavranos and Rapanarivo <br>
'''''P. rosulatum''''' var. '''''gracilius''''' H. Perrier >>> '''''P. gracilius''''' (H. Perrier) Rapanarivo <br>
'''''P. rosulatum''''' var. '''''horombense''''' (Poiss.) G.D. Rowley >>> '''''P. horombense''''' Poiss. <br>
'''''P. rosulatum''''' var. '''''inopinatum''''' (Lavranos) G.D. Rowley >>> '''''P. inopinatum''''' Lavranos <br>
'''''P. rosulatum''''' var. '''''rosulatum''''' frma. '''''bicolor''''' (Lavranos and Rapanarivo) G.D. Rowley >>> '''''P. bicolor''''' Lavranos and Rapanarivo <br>
'''''P. rosulatum''''' var. '''''stenanthum''''' Costantin and Bois >>> '''''P. cactipes''''' K. Schum. <br>
'''''P. rutenbergianum''''' var. '''''lamerei''''' (Drake) Poiss. >>> '''''P. lamerei''''' Drake <br>
'''''P. rutenbergainum''''' var. '''''meridionale''''' H. Perrier >>> '''''P. meridionale''''' (H. Perrier) Pichon <br>
'''''P. rutenbergainum''''' var. '''''perrieri''''' Poiss. >>> '''''P. sofiense''''' (Pois.) H. Perrier <br>
'''''P. rutenbergainum''''' var. '''''sofiense''''' Poiss. >>> '''''P. sofiense''''' (Pois.) H. Perrier <br>
'''''P. tomentosum''''' G. Don >>> '''''P. succulentum''''' (L.f.) A. DC. <br>
'''''P. tuberosum''''' Lindl >>> '''''P. succulentum''''' (L.f.) A. DC. <br>
'''''P. tuberosum''''' var. '''''loddigessii''''' A. DC. >>> '''''P. bispinosum''''' (L.f.) A. DC. <br>
'''''P. tuberosum''''' Lodd. >>> '''''P. bispinosum''''' (L.f.) A. DC. <br>
=='''Unknown Species Listing of Names'''==
===University of Arizona===
(Had to Use Google Cache Page of P. menabeum to Obtain this List of other unknown Pachypodium.)
[http://64.233.187.104./search?q=cache:zu63X40K508J:methusela.calssnet.arizona.edu:8080/imagedb/servlet/DBDisplayTaxon%3Ftdisplay%3D2%26taxon_name%3DPachypodium+Pachypodium+menabeum&hl=en Search]
Links on web page do not offer information about stated species.
'''''Pachypodium integrifolium ???''''' <br>
'''''P. laciniatum ??? '''''<br>
'''''P. linearifolium ??? '''''<br>
'''''P. sagittatum''''' ???? <br>
==='''Uhlig Kakteen Nursery''' (Germany)===
'''''Pachypodium fiherenense''''' sp. nov.; Tulear, Madagascar ??? <br>
=='''Morphology'''== <br>
(Taken from Rapanarivo et al.) <br>
==='''Habit'''===
'''Pachypodium''' species radically vary in habit, whereby "habit" means the plant's physical characteristics, appearances, form, or manner of growth. '''Pachypodium''' species have varying forms Bottle-, Cigar-, or Candelabrum-shaped trees with thick branches to diminutive plants with one species having an extremely short trunk. This species, '''''P. brevicaule''''', has a trunk not over 8 cm but is juxtaposition oddly enough with a grotesque, unnatural looking 40 cm diameter. Most of the species are shrubs not over 4 m high. Nevertheless, '''''P. geayi''''', '''''P. lamerei''''', '''''P. lealii''''', '''''P. meridionale''''', and '''''P. sofiense''''' take on the habit of a tree about 5 m high. '''''P. rutenbergainum''''' can even reach a height of 12 m. '''''P. namaquanum''''' takes on the height of a tree but branches rarely. All species, except '''''P. decaryi''''' which can be spineless, are thorny at least on the branchlets.
==='''Bark'''===
The bark on '''Pachypodium''' species vary from a pale grey to a dark brown or a green-grey that is often smooth. In section the bark of '''Pachypodium''' species tends to average about 6 mm thick and is usually colored medium green.
==='''Wood'''===
'''Pachypodium''' wood is soft and cream colored.
==='''Spines'''===
'''Pachypodium''' form stipules transformed into spines. A stipule is one of a pair of lateral outgrowths at the base of the petiole, the stalk of the leaf, in some plants. All African species and '''''P. geayi''''' as well as '''''P. lamerei''''' have three spines; where two spines together are subequal, while the third is smaller and placed in-between them. All other species have just two paired spines, where the length varies from 1 mm in '''''P. decaryi''''' and '''''P. sofiense''''' to 75 mm in '''''P. namaquanum'''''.
==='''Leaves'''===
'''Pachypodium''' leaves are alternate. They can be '''sessile''' or '''petiolate''': where ''sessile'' means lacking a stem, petiole, peduncle or pedicel; AND ''petiolate'' entails having a petiole, which is like a petal, colored and enlarged. The petiole is either densely pubescent--''hairy''--to glabrous--''smooth''. The leaves are typically confined to the apices of branchlets, branches, or trunk. The blade is herbaceous to coriaceous, leathery, when fresh and papery when dried. Its shape ranges from ovate to obovate. The leaf can range from (I) densely pubescent on both sides with stellate hairs as in '''''P. namaquanum''''' to (II) glabrous on both sides in '''''P. rutenbergainum''''' to (III) pubescent to glabrous above and densely pubescent to glabrous beneath in other species. The apex is acuminate, pointed, to rounded or infrequently mucronate, ending abruptly in a small triangular tip on top, as in '''''P. bispinosum''''', '''''P. lamerei''''', and '''''P. leali'''''. Secondary veins in dried leaves are apparent in all species except '''''P. bispinosum'''''. These veins are paired, straight at the base and upcurved upwards.
==='''Inflorescence'''===
'''Pachypodium''' inflorescence are (I) terminal, ''the end of an axis'', (II) sessile, ''lacking a stem'', OR (III) pedunculate, ''the main axis of the inflorescence''. With exception to '''''P. geayi''''', the inflorescence is congested with few to many flowers. With the species '''''P. bispinosum''''', '''''P. lealii''''', and '''''P. succulentum''''', the inflorescence is terminal on minute lateral branchlets. The inflorescence is thus often seen as axillary. The bracts are usually sepal-like, where they are pubescent on the outside and mostly glabrous inside, with exception to '''''P. bispinosum''''', '''''P. rutenbergainum''''', and '''''P. saundersii'''''. The latter three are glabrous on both sides. The peduncle, the main axis of the inflorescence, is 0-20 mm long in '''''P. meridionale''''', '''''P. rutenbergianum''''', '''''P. sofience''''', and all continental African species. '''''P. horombense''''' sports the longest peduncles, often up to 56 mm. The flowers are sessile--''lacking a stem.'' The longest pedicels are also found on '''''P. horombense'''''.
==='''Flower'''===
====''Calyx''====
A '''calyx''' is the outer most series of leaves in a flower, which are commonly green. That is to say, it is the collective term for all sepels of a flower; or the outer whorl of the perianth, where ''perianth'' is the protective envelop of the flower consisting of all uniform segments; such as tepals, or consisting of the calyx and corolla.
In '''''Pachypodium''''', the calyx always has five subequal ovate to oblong sepals united at the base of the flower and is often persistent in the fruit.
====''Corolla''====
A '''corolla''' is a collective term used for all the petals of a flower; or the inner whorl of a perianth.
In '''Pachypodium''', the corolla is tubular and variously colored; where the lobes are (I) ''red'' to ''crisom'' in '''''P. baronii''''' and '''''P. windsorii'''''; (II) ''pure white'' in '''''P. meridionale''''' and '''''P. rutenbergainum'''''; (III) ''yellow'' in many species from Madagascar; AND (IV) ''variously colored'' in other species. The mature corolla bud has a head that is usually oviod with an obtuse apex in all species except '''''P. meridionale''''' and '''''P. rutenbergianum''''', which have narrowly oviod heads and an acuminate apex. The tube of the corolla is divided into two parts: (I) The basil part is usually cylindrical and often shorter than the upper part; with exception in '''''P. densiflorum''''', '''''P. geayi''''', '''''P. inopinatum''''', and '''''P. windsorii'''''; AND (II) the upper part may be (a) ''urceolate''--''urn-shaped or hollow and with a contraction near the "mouth''--in '''''P. ambongense''''', '''''P. decaryi''''', '''''P. lamerei''''', '''''P. lealii''''', '''''P. rutenbergainum''''', and '''''P. saundersii'''''; (b) cylindrical in '''''P. baronii''''', '''''P. brevicaule''''', '''''P. sofience''''', '''''P. succulentum''''', and '''''P. windsorii'''''; AND (c) ''occonical'' in all other species. A pubescent belt is below the insertion of the stamens, which may continue upwards and may become more dense at the mouth in '''''P. baronii''''' and '''''P. windsorii'''''; or this pubescent belt may extend sometimes all over the lobes as in '''''P. namaquanum'''''. The corolla measures 9 mm long in '''''P. succulentum''''' and 60 mm long in '''''P. sofiense'''''. The corolla lobs overlap to the right in bud and are slightly twisted only in '''''P. meridionale''''' and '''''P. rutenbergainum'''''. In '''''P. meridionale''''', the lobes are always longer than the tube; just as they are always shorter in '''''P. bicolor''''', '''''P. bispinosum''''', '''''P. gracilius''''', '''''P. horombense''''', '''''P. namaquanum''''', '''''P. saundersii''''', and '''''P. sofiense'''''. In other species, they can shorter or longer than the corolla tube. The corolla lobes are obliquely ovate or obliquely obovate, recurved in '''''P. geayi''''', and undulate in '''''P. densiflorum''''', '''''P. lealli''''', '''''P. meridionale''''', and '''''P. rutenbergainum'''''. The apex is acuminate to rounded.
====''Stamens and Pistil''====
The "male" organ within a flower, usually consisting of ''filament''--''the usually thin to thread-like short or elongated stalk of the stamen which carries the anther at the upper end''--AND ''anther''--''the part on the stamen, usually on top, which bear the pollen, commonly consisting of two or four '''thecae''' which contain the pollen, and a sterile region in between the '''connective'''.''
The ovary of the Pachypodium flower is subglobose and composed of two ''carpels''--''the "female" organ of an angiospermous flower that consists of a modified leaf that contains the ovules and normally has a '''style''' with a '''stigma''' at top''. (''A style is the commonly cylindrical or stalk-like portion that connects the stigma with the ovary, carpel; whereas the stigma is the top-most receptive region of the style, often divided into stigma-lobes, commonly papillate or wet by a sticky exudate to help capture and norish pollen grains''.) These two carpels of the subglobose ovary is either pubescent or glabrous. Importantly each carples contains numerous ovules. All species of '''Pachypodium''' have stamens except '''''P. desiflorum''''' and '''''P. geayi''''' where they are exserted; or, thrust outward or protruding, as stamens projecting beyond petals.
====''Fruit''====
The fruit of '''Pachypodium''' are composed of two separate ''mericaps'', the part of an ovary, or carpel, with one or more enclosed seeds; often the distribution unit of segmented fruits. Pale to dark brown, the mericarps of '''Pachypodium''' are marked with longitudinal lines or lenticellate outside; whereas inside, when dried, it is whitish to pale brown and either (I) ''glabrous'' for '''''P. decaryi''''', '''''P. geayi''''', '''''P. meridionale''''', '''''P. lealli''''', and '''''P. saundersii'''''; OR (II) ''densely pubescent'' in '''''P. namaquanum'''''; OR (III) ''pubescent'' to ''puberulous'' in the other species. The mericaps are usually ''fusiform''--''spindle-shaped or elongated and terete and gradually tapering at each end''--with exception to '''''P. namaquanum''''', where they are obovoid to ellipsoid.
The seed grains are pale to medium brown, have smooth to rough testa, and bear a single straw-colowered or whitish coma on their apex.
==Habitats==
==References==
==='''Taxonomy'''===
'''GardenWeb (http://www..gardenweb.com)'''
'''Glossary of Botanical Terms with Special Reference to Succulent Plants. (Including German Equivalents)''' complied by Urs Eggli.(British Cactus and Succulent Society,
1993)
==='''Pachypodium'''===
'''Trees of Southern Africa''' by A. van Wyk and P. van Wyk <br>
'''<u>Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): Taxonomy, Habitats and Cultivation</u>''' by S.H.J.V Rapanarivo; J.J Lavranos, A.J.M. Leeuwenberg ''and'' W. Röösli [Rapanarivo et al.]. <br>
Lavranos, John J. "Pachypodium makayense'': A New Species from Madagascar." ''Cactus ands Succulent Journal(USA)'' ''76'' (2), 85-88.
==External link==
http://www.pachypodium.org <br>
[http://www..gardenweb.com GardenWeb]: Easy, General Taxonomy <br>
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