Alluaudia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Didiereaceae. There are six species, all endemic to Madagascar.[1]
| Alluaudia | |
|---|---|
| Alluaudia procera | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Didiereaceae |
| Subfamily: | Didiereoideae |
| Genus: | Alluaudia (Drake) Drake |
| Species | |
|
6, see text | |
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]
| 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 | |
Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Alluaudia |
|
| Didierea sect. Alluaudia |
|