Biology:Alluaudia

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Short description: Genus of flowering plants

Alluaudia
Alluaudia procera
Scientific classification e
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Plantae
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Tracheophytes
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Angiosperms
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Eudicots
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Caryophyllales
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Didiereaceae
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Didiereoideae
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Alluaudia
(Drake) Drake
Species

6, see text

Alluaudia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Didiereaceae. There are six species, all endemic to Madagascar .[1]

Most occur in the southwestern subarid forest-thicket vegetation of the island.[2]

Species of Alluaudia are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.[3] Spines are arranged around the leaves as a defense against herbivores. The spines are several meters above the ground, and probably evolved in response to herbivory by now-extinct lemurs, such as Hadropithecus. Several lemur species living today feed heavily on Alluaudia, such as the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) and the white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus).[4]

Species

Image Scientific name Distribution
Alluaudia ascendens (Drake) Drake 1903 Madagascar
Alluaudia comosa (Drake) Drake 1903 SW Madagascar.
Alluaudia dumosa (Drake) Drake 1903 southern coastal Madagascar
Alluaudia humbertii Choux 1934 Madagascar
Alluaudia montagnacii Rauh 1961 Madagascar
Alluaudia procera (Drake) Drake 1903 Madagascar


References

  1. Alluaudia. Madagascar Catalogue. eFloras.
  2. Schatz, G., et al. Modeling of endemic plant species of Madagascar under climate change. In: Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Madagascar's Livelihoods and Biodiversity. Conference. Antananarivo, Madagascar, 28 January 2008.
  3. Applequist, W. L.; Wallace, R. S. (2000). "Phylogeny of the Madagascan endemic family Didiereaceae". Plant Systematics and Evolution 221 (3–4): 157–166. doi:10.1007/BF01089291. 
  4. Crowley, B. E. and L. R. Godfrey. (2013). Why all those spines?: Anachronistic defences in the Didiereoideae against now extinct lemurs. South African Journal of Science 109(1-2), 1-7.

Wikidata ☰ Q310591 entry