Common Name:

General Information

Alluaudia procera is a succulent, spiny, deciduous tree growing up to 15 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for 6 - 10 metres and 40 - 55cm in diameter[]. The branches are armed with many, stout, 1 - 2cm long, solitary spines[]. The trees usually form branches, but occasional plants are columnar (branch-free)[].
The plant is a valuable source of wood for construction and fuel within its native range, where it is commonly harvested from the wild and also sometimes cultivated[]. This species is in great demand as an ornamental and is the most common member of Didiereaceae in succulent collections.
The dry scrub and forest that is the habitat type of this species has been replaced by grassland over much of its range. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Africa - south and southwest Madagascar.

Habitat

Dry forest and thickets at elevations from 100 - 450 metres, occasionally to 800 metres, often in association with xerophytic Euphorbia spp[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the arid and sub-arid lowland tropics where it is usually found at elevations below 450 metres. It is found in areas where the mean annual temperature is 23°c and the mean annual rainfall is 300 - 900mm, with 7 - 10 dry months each year[]. The plant can tolerate temperatures down to around 0°c[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Prefers a position in light shade[]. The plant is most commonly found in the wild on well-drained calcareous or alluvial soils, but also grows on gneissic, sandy and sandstone soils[].
The growth of seedlings is slow; seedlings are on average only 2cm tall after 6 months, although some may reach 25cm after 14 months[].
Young plants form a tangle of stems that last for several years after which a strong central stem develops. The basal stems then die out leaving a tree-like stem that branches higher up on the main trunk.
Taking into consideration the climate and the dry, sandy soils in the area of distribution, established trees grow quite rapidly. Annual growth rates of 100 - 175cm in height, but only 2 - 3mm in bole diameter have been recorded, whereas annual wood volume increments in natural stands are 0.6 - 5.0 cubic metres/ha[]. In plantations of 11 year old trees raised from cuttings, the largest specimens were 8 metres tall and 10 - 20cm in diameter, but most of them had a bad bole shape[].
Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) has been found in this and other Alluaudia spp., fixing carbon dioxide during the night and having the stomata closed during the day. This can be considered an adaptation to arid conditions[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plant has successfully been used as a rootstock for grafting several other species of Didiereaceae from Madagascar[].

The heartwood is whitish yellow; it is indistinctly demarcated from the 4 - 5cm wide layer of sapwood, which, however, often becomes greyish to greenish upon exposure. The texture is moderately fine; it has a mottled structure because of the presence of large rays[]. The wood is light in weight; not durable, and liable to attacks by fungi, especially blue-stain fungi, termites and wood-boring insects. However, planks of local houses may last more than 5 years when they are not in contact with the ground[]. It is easy to saw; holds nails and screws fairly well; the gluing and painting properties are satisfactory; it has good slicing and peeling characteristics[]. The bole is often sawn in rough planks to be used in local house construction. The wood, known locally as 'fantsilotra', is also commonly used for boxes and crates. It has been used for containers for tobacco and vanilla because it is odourless. It is suitable for interior trim, furniture, laths for tile roofs, supporting framework, veneer for inner layers of plywood, and particle board[].
The wood is used for fuel and for charcoal production[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a seed tray in a lightly shaded position and place the tray in a plastic bag until the first signs of germination are seen. The seed germinates best at a temperature of 22 - 25°c[]. The germination rate is low; some tests showed a germination rate of only 0.1%. Some seeds germinate within 6 - 9 days, but germination may take up to 4 months[]. Seedlings are susceptible to damping off and watering should be done carefully[]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle (about 10mm tall) and grow on until large enough to plant out[].
Seeds can be stored up to 6 months[].
Cuttings of mature wood 20 - 30cm long. A basal temperature of around 25°c is best for rooting[].
Propagation by cuttings is easy, and plants can also be successfully propagated by layering and root suckers[].

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