Alluaudia montagnacii

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = 01 20120515ortopallavicini-235.JPG

|image_caption = At the botanical garden of Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Genova Pegli

|status = EN

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Ramanantsialonina, R.N. |year=2019 |title=Alluaudia montagnacii |page=e.T128095355A128098562 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T128095355A128098562.en}}

|genus = Alluaudia

|species = montagnacii

|authority = Rauh{{cite POWO | title = Alluaudia montagnacii Rauh| id = 316434-1 | access-date = 12 November 2023}}

}}

Alluaudia montagnacii is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Didiereaceae.

Description

File:01 20120515ortopallavicini-239.JPG

Alluaudia montagnacii can reach a height of {{cvt|2.4|-|6|m}}.{{Cite web |last=WoS |date=2019-10-10 |title=Alluaudia montagnacii |url=https://worldofsucculents.com/alluaudia-montagnacii/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=World of Succulents |language=en-US}} The tall columnar central trunk sprouts strong vertical branches. Stem and branches have symmetrically arranged leaves, about {{cvt|1.5|cm}} long, and black-tipped thorns, {{cvt|2|–|2.5|cm}} long. Leaves are deciduous in the long dry season. Photosynthesis is carried on by the stems. This plant is well adapted to live where water is a limiting environmental factor. The flowers are small, green or yellow.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Distribution and habitat

Alluaudia montagnacii is endemic to the Mahafaly Plateau of southwestern Madagascar. It grows in small arid and subarid areas on a narrow belt of the coast. It is part of the Madagascar spiny forests, where it forms a specific plant community with species such as Cedrelopsis grevei and Ficus marmorata.

References