Pachypodium namaquanum (live succulent)

Pachypodium namaquanum (live succulent)

Family: Apocynaceae

Common names: elephant’s trunk, halfmens.

It is native to the arid, rocky mountains of the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape and southern Namibia. It is a tree-like succulent devoid of branches, with a spiny trunk and a mop of leaves on top. Growing to a height of about 2m, halfmens have swollen succulent stems which they use for storing water in this parched desert region. The top part of the trunk (the apex) is usually covered with a rosette of crinkly green leaves which fall off in summer. The stem will grow up to 25 centimetres in diameter and the height may range between 1.5 and 2.5 m when fully grown. These plants are 1-2cm high.