Alluaudia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Didiereaceae. There are six species, all endemic to Madagascar.
Most occur in the southwestern subarid forest-thicket vegetation of the island.
Species of Alluaudia are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Spines are arranged around the leaves as a defense against herbivores. The spines are several meters above the ground, and probably evolved in response to herbivory by now-extinct lemurs, such as Hadropithecus. Several lemur species living today feed heavily on Alluaudia, such as the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) and the white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus).
Species
{| class="wikitable"
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! Image !! Scientific name !! Distribution
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|120px || Alluaudia ascendens <small>(Drake) Drake 1903</small> || Madagascar
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|120px || Alluaudia comosa <small>(Drake) Drake 1903</small> || SW Madagascar.
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|120px ||Alluaudia dumosa <small>(Drake) Drake 1903</small> || southern coastal Madagascar
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|120px || Alluaudia humbertii <small>Choux 1934</small> || Madagascar
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|120px || Alluaudia montagnacii <small>Rauh 1961</small> || Madagascar
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|120px || Alluaudia procera <small>(Drake) Drake 1903</small>|| Madagascar
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|}
References
External links
- GRIN Species Records of Alluaudia. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
- http://worldofsucculents.com/how-to-grow-and-care-for-alluaudia/
