Pachypodium brevicaule Photo by: Andrea B.
This is probably the most peculiar species in the genus and surely a plant that exerts great attraction on collectors, although it can be somewhat difficult to grow if not grafted.
Origin and Habitat: South Central Madagascar (south of Antananarivo to the Itremo Mountains )
Altitude: 1250–2000 m.
Habitat: Pachypodium brevicauleSN|11689]]SN|11689]] typically grows on exposed sandstone faces or rarely on granite, in crevices between outcrops of quartzite. With a pH. Level varying from 3.5 to 4.5, it is strictly adapted to growing in acid substrates.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Pachypodium brevicaule
Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Žemasis tukvis
CHINESE (中文): 惠比須笑
SWEDISH (Svenska): Gul ökenstjärna
Description: Pachypodium brevicaule is the smallest and more strange species in the genus, with a remarkable rock-mimic caudex remembering a sack of potatoes with sparse leaves. It is truly a beautiful sight to see a large specimen covered with hundreds of bright yellow flowers. This is the one every Pachypodium lover should have.
Stem: At first like a potato tuber, eventually bizarrely compressed like a blob (sometimes described as a cow-pie) up to 30 cm in diameter (but eventually up to 1 m in diameter in the wild) and rarely over a decimetre tall, silver in color, with short spines and very reduced branches distinguishable as lobes on the overall 'blob' shape subtending rosettes of leaves.
Leaves: In scattered compact rosettes, elliptic. 2-4 long and 1-1,6 cm wide, pubescent in the bottom side.
Inflorescence: Compact cymes with 2-6 flowers.
Flowers: Bright yellow. 2-3 cm across. Corolla-tube narrow 1,7-2,5 cm in diameter.
Blooming season: Summer.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Pachypodium brevicaule group
- Pachypodium brevicaule Baker: is the smallest species in the genus, with rock-mimic caudex remembering a sack of potatoes with sparse leaves and covered with hundreds of bright yellow flowers. Distribution: south of Antananarivo to the Itremo Mountains
- Pachypodium brevicaule cv. White: white flowering form. Garden origin.
- Pachypodium brevicaule in Habitat. Photo by: © Plantemania Pachypodium brevicaule Photo by: Andrea B. Pachypodium brevicaule Photo by: Flavio Agrosi Pachypodium brevicaule Photo by: © Plantemania Pachypodium brevicaule Photo by: Andrea B. Pachypodium brevicaule Photo by: Cactus Art Pachypodium brevicaule Photo by: Andrea B. Pachypodium brevicaule Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Cultivation and Propagation: They seem to be rot-prone under less than ideal conditions and care. Water sparingly and give extra well-drained soil to avoid waterlogged conditions . The watering program will change depending on temperatures and stage of growth, but it is best not to let this plant dry out completely for any length of time. It is sensitive to cold and should be kept warm at all times. It tends to lose its leave and go dormant in winter when watering should be reduced to a minimum. It like full sun. Requires acidic soil (pH. 5-6 or even less), avoid any limestone! To make them less prone to rotting, they can be grafted onto Pachypodium gaeyi or Pachypodium lameirei. Plant grafted grow even faster and flower easily.
Your Photos
by Valentino Vallicelli
by Andrea B.
by Andrea B.
by Andrea B.
by Andrea B.