Alluaudia

Taxobox
name = "Alluaudia"


image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Alluaudia montagnacii"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Didiereaceae
genus = "Alluaudia"
genus_authority = Drake
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Alluaudia ascendens" "Alluaudia comosa" "Alluaudia dumosa" "Alluaudia humbertii" "Alluaudia montagnacii" "Alluaudia procera"

"Alluaudia" is a genus of six species of flowering plants endemic to Madagascar, where they form an important component of the Madagascar spiny forests. They are spiny succulent shrubs and trees from 2-20 m tall, with leaves that are deciduous in the long dry season. The leaves are in pairs, 0.5-3.5 cm long, with one or two thorns 2-2.5 cm long in the axil of each pair of leaves. The flowers are small, grouped many together in large umbels.

Several of the species are grown as indoor ornamental plants in specialist succulent collections. Of the six species Alluaudia ascendens, A. procera, A. montagnacii, and A. dumosa form a tall central trunk that that sprouts strong vertical branches. Alluaudia comosa and A. humbertii are shorter, and form a thick tangle of horizontal branches. Alluaudia dumosa, unlike the other species, bears small leaves only on the new growth and are quickly shed. Photosynthesis is carried on by the stems.