Adapted to weather dry seasons
Pachypodium baronii
Family: Apocynaceae
Conservation status: Endangered
Pachypodium baronii, also known as Madagascar palm or bontaka, can grow up to 15 feet tall. The plant features a distinctive bottle-shaped trunk that stores water to help it weather Madagascar’s dry season. Curved spines covering the trunk protect the leaves atop the plant from herbivores.
When in bloom, Pachypodium baronii bears large, trumpet-like, pink and red flowers. They are frequently pollinated by moths attracted by the flower’s sweet scent. Due to over-collection for the horticultural trade and the loss of native habitat, Pachypodium baronii is classified as an endangered species.