Didierea madagascariensis
| Didierea madagascariensis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Didiereaceae |
| Genus: | Didierea |
| Species: | D. madagascariensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Didierea madagascariensis | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Didierea madagascariensis, commonly known as the octopus tree,[3] is a species of Didiereaceae endemic to the spiny thickets of southwestern Madagascar.[2] It was first described scientifically by the French botanist Henri Ernest Baillon in 1880[4] and is the type species of the genus Didierea.
It is known in Malagasy as sohongy, sony and soribarika.[5] Sohongy and sony come from the Tanosy dialect word songo meaning "lock of hair" or a rooster's crest or comb[6] possibly referring to its branches that sprawl upwards.
Description
As with all members of the sub-family Didiereoideae, this is a semi-succulent woody, shrub to small tree.[7] It is densely spiny and can grow up to 10 metres (33 ft) tall.[8] Spines are arranged in whorls, mostly of four.[7] Leaves are small and narrow-lanceolate and arranged in rosettes.[7]
References
- ^ Ramanantsialonina, R.N. (2019). "Didierea madagascariensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T128095524A128098574. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T128095524A128098574.en. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "Didierea madagascariensis Baill". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Couzens, Dominic (2008). Top 100 Birding Sites of the World. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-520-25932-4.
- ^ Baillon, Henri Ernest (1880). "Sur le Didierra". Bulletin Mensuel de la Société Linnéenne de Paris (in French). 1: 258–259.
- ^ de La Beaujardière, Jean-Marie, ed. (2001). "Botanical scientific names". Malagasy Dictionary and Malagasy Encyclopedia.
- ^ Boiteau, Pierre (1999). "sony". Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux (in French). Vol. III. Editions Alzieu – via Malagasy Dictionary and Malagasy Encyclopedia.
- ^ a b c Rauh, W. 1983. The morphology and systematic position of the Didiereaceae of Madagascar. Blumea 14(3/4): 839–843.
- ^ Dixon, R. (1995). "The Didiereaceae of southern Madagascar". Aloe. 32 (3/4): 72–73. ISSN 0002-6301.
External links
- Media related to
Didierea madagascariensis at Wikimedia Commons