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Plant of the Month
November 2008
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Elephants trunk, Club foot, Halfmens.
Pachypodium
namaquanum
Apocynaceae (oleander or periwinkle family)
Form: The Pachypodium namaquanum is probably the
most sought after specie in the genus. Its habitat is South Africa, Northern
Cape and southern Namibia. Well known populations
can be found in the Richtersveld National
Park. �This majestic plant is
usually a single stem, tree like plant in cultivation. Only after many years
and at a certain size, will the plant begin to branch on its own. Insect/mite
damage, along with cold damage can cause the plant to branch prematurely. Its
thick grey to light brown stem is covered in 2� to 4� long spines. Long Vee shaped leaves with wavy crinkles all along the edge,
grow from the top. The leaves have a velvet like
texture. With age, the lower spines fall away and only the tubercles are to
be seen. In habitat, mature plants with braches, from a distance would
resemble the silhouette of a man, hence the African name, Halfmens
Size: These plants can
reach a height of 5m in habitat. Generally, the range from 1.5m to 2.5m. The
plant is characteristically thicker at the base and tapes up towards the
apex.
Flowers/Fruit: Very attractive tubular
flowers emerge in clusters from the very tip. The flowers appear from July to
September. The flowers have a green/yellow color on the outsides and when
open, reveal very nice purple petals. The fruit are horn like and are densely
covered in very fine white/grey hairs. Once ripe, the horns split open to
reveal the seeds. Each seed has a tuft of hairs attached to it to act as a
parachute to be carried by the wind. Seeds generally ripen from September to
December. Generally, the plant needs to be aleast
12� tall in order to bloom.
Sun/Water: The P. namaquanum lives in a very arid and
harsh environment. It gets its rainfall in the winter, which isn�t really
much at all. Ranging from 50 to 150mm. Additionally, layers of thick fog roll
in from the coast and provide extra moisture. In cultivation, maximum sun can
be given and moderate water during its growing season.
Propagation: From seed. Since
these plants much attain a great size and age to branch, seeds are the best
form of propagation. They can be grown fairly easily and quickly from seed.
Notes: These plants seem
to favor rocky hill slopes that are exposed to extreme conditions. Ranging
from 300 to 900m above sea level. P.
namaquanum is a winter grower. Provide minimal water during the rest of
the year.
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