Download STRANGE PLANTS OF MADAGASCAR

STRANGE PLANTS OF
MADAGASCAR
D. Ellis, 10/2006
Madagascar is the world’s 4th largest island, off the eastern coast of Africa. It broke away
from the continent of Africa long ago, and its plants and animals have evolved separately into
many unique species found nowhere else in the world. In that respect, it is very similar to the
Galapagos Islands.
But in my opinion Madagascar is much more interesting than the
Galapagos because its plants and animals are much stranger!
My absolute favorite tree in the whole wide
world, the baobab (Adansonia species).
Baobabs are caudiciform plants, meaning
that they form a caudex (a swollen trunk) to
store water, in order to survive in their native
arid environments. This baobab is A.
rubrostipa. Madagascar has 9 Adansonia
species; more than any other country in the
world. One species was discovered just
before I arrived.
Adansonia
grandidieri
And some neighbors
Adansonia grandidieri, a bit older than the
previous tree. These are the tallest growing
baobabs.
To give you an idea of the size of this baobab,
in the upper photo there are two people visible
to the right of the tree
Spiny Forest, a major vegetation type of Madagascar. The tall
plants are Alluaudias, about 10 - 15 feet tall.
Didierea trollii
Alluaudias
procera, blooming
Alluaudia procera
Rising above the spiny forest, a baobab (round fruit) at left and a Pachypodium (linear fruit) at
right. Pachypodiums are also caudiciform plants, although they generally grow to a smaller
mature size than baobabs.
Relatively young baobabs,
probably about 400-500 years
old. Baobabs up to 1600 years
old have been found; most of
the larger specimens have
probably been destroyed.
Note the round fruits.
Pachypodium species.
Note the linear fruits
100 year old baobab
(Andansonia grandidieri)
They
Grow
Slow!
20 year old baobab
(Andansonia grandidieri)
People or animals will
sometimes cut out
chunks from the trunks
(see lower left at the
base of this baobab’s
trunk) to get water in
emergencies.
This particular tree, in
an arboretum, is called
the Teapot Tree.
800-year old baobab
and Tim.
Me and a
1200 year-old
baobab
Sometimes the trunks of baobabs
split into two. The baobab on the
left is called the “Woman Tree”.
A “wild” baobab outside a
preserve – this one is being
used by a family for
temporary shade.
A young Madagascan man tending Pachypodium lamerii plants (also
called Madagascar palm) in the Berenti zoological preserve. This
preserve was purchased and set aside primarily by a U.S.
zoologist, to study the lemurs there.
Lemurs are strange
primates native only to
Madagascar. They are
like a cross between a
cat and a monkey. There
are many species
ranging in size from the
tiny mouse lemur (the
size of a small rat) to the
giant lemur which is the
size of a chimpanzee.
Lemurs are very smart
and curious. They can
also be pests when they
are used to humans.
Ringtail lemurs
Dancing lemurs
Unlike the other lemurs, they walk on
two feet, which is called “dancing.”
GIANT LEMUR
These are the
largest lemurs;
the size of a
chimpanzee.
To me, they
look like a cross
between a
panda and a
Koala.
Another succulent tree, Moringa species.
Aloe zoombie
The Massif
Aloe species, hiding in the grass.
Stick insect. Find it. It is about 6 inches long.
ELEPHANT FEET,
Pachypodium rosulatum,
subspecies Isaloensis
Elephant’s feet. I think they
look like bagpipes. These are
18 – 24 inches tall.
Kalanchoe beharensis
I saw these plants growing up to 6 feet tall.
In California, they are sometimes sold as
specialty succulent plants in nurseries. They
conserve water with their white, hairy
leaves.
Kalanchoe species
Another Kalanchoe, these plants
are like little triangular nesting
cups, about 4 to 6 inches across.
I never did find out what species
they are. It was hard not to put a
few in my pocket to take home!
THE RAIN FOREST
The Many-Fingered Fern
(at least this is what I call
it). It is difficult to find
the names of many of the
plants here.
Gecko
Leaf insect
(2” long)
(6” long)
One of what must be hundreds of species of Chameleons in
Madagascar. You can just find them and pick them right out
of trees, as I often did. This one has a very long tongue
(about 6 inches) that is used to catch insects. Chameleons
have tails that can curl and hold onto things like branches.
Traveler’s Tree,
Traveler’s Palm,
Ravenala
madagascariensis
This is a popular plant grown in
tropical areas around the world,
although it is native to Madagascar.
It is related to the Bird-of-Paradise
plant, Strelitzia reginae.
Rumor says travelers can obtain
water from the leaf bases, which
are cup-like and collect rain water.
The leaves are also rumored to point
North and South, which
unfortunately does not hold true.
That’s it, folks!