Alluaudia comosa
Alluaudia comosa is a rare species of flowering plant. It belongs to the family Didiereaceae, subfamily Didiereoideae, which is found only in the coastal area of SW Madagascar. "Didierea comosa" Drake is a synonym. It is listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Description. "Alluaudia comosa" has a distinctive, easily recognized silhouette with a short trunk and dense branches that stop in a flat crown. This is a deciduous shrub to small tree 2-6 (-10) metres tall that is woody, semi-succulent and spiny, with spines set singly. Spines are grey and 1.5 -3.5 cm long. Leaves are developed mostly in pairs, set on a short stalk (petiole), dying off at the beginning of the dry season. They are rounded (10–22 mm X 10 mm) and fleshy. Flowers. Flowers are produced on a reduced inflorescence in "Alluaudia comosa"; only the end flower develops, and is set on a very short axis. Flowers are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). Habitat. This species grows on limestone in dry forests or coastal shrubland.