Alluaudia procera

Botanical Description

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[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The branches are armed with many, stout, 1 - 2cm long, solitary spines[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The trees usually form branches, but occasional plants are columnar (branch-free)[ 423 Title Desert Tropicals Publication Author Website http://www.desert-tropicals.com/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation. ]. 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[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. 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 The dry scrub and forest that is the habitat type of this species has been replaced by grassland over much of its range.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)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].