Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Pachypodium lamerei is a cactus-like succulent with a thick, spiny gray trunk growing 2-5 m. high. When kept as houseplants, they are much smaller. The trunk is covered with 5 cm long spines and the foliage is arranged spirally near ends of branches, with leaves about 10-40 x 3-10 cm. The star-shaped flowers are white with a yellow throat and sometimes red tinge, lightly fragrant and similar in appearance to those of plumeria. They grow in clusters and are about 25-65 mm long by 17-41 mm wide. The fruits are reddish brown and oblong (about 15 x 4 cm) and always grow in pairs.
RAPANARIVO, S., AND A. J. M. LEEUWENBERG. 1999. Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): Taxonomy, Habitats and Cultivation. Balkema.

This plant is native to Madagascar, although it is grown in gardens throughout the dry tropics. In its native habitat it can be found in dry, rocky and sandy soils up to 1200 m elevation. Pachypodium lamerei is the most widely distributed species of the genus in Madagascar.
RAPANARIVO, S., AND A. J. M. LEEUWENBERG. 1999. Pachypodium (Apocynaceae): Taxonomy, Habitats and Cultivation. Balkema.

The generic name comes from the greek words “pachy” meaning thick and “podium” meaning foot.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachypodium)

All members of the genus are prohibited from international trade by CITES. There is however a legal and sustainable nursery trade in plants grown from seed and cuttings.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachypodium)

Two significant adapations allow Pachypodium species to survive in dry, hostile environments: “pachycaul” trunks, and spines. The thick, internally pithy trunks of Pachypodium facilitate water storage similar to a cactus. The trunks and stems can also photosynthesize, making the leaves, which can cause rapid water evaporation from the plant, unnecesary in times of drought. Spines help condense moisture from fog or dew into drops which fall at the base of the plant
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachypodium)