Pachycaul in the context of "Euphorbia ampliphylla"

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⭐ Core Definition: Pachycaul

Pachycauls are plants with a disproportionately thick trunk, for their height, and relatively few branches. With certain pachycaul species, particularly the more succulent varieties, they are commonly referred to as "caudiciformes", a reference to their trunk development of a moisture-filled caudex for periods of drought. By comparison, trees with thin twigs, such as oaks (Quercus), maples (Acer) and Eucalyptus, are called leptocauls; those with moderately thick twigs, such as Plumeria, are called mesocauls. Pachycauls can be the product of exceptional primary growth (as with Arecaceae and Cycadaceae) or disproportionate secondary growth, as with the baobabs (Adansonia). The word is derived from the Greek pachy- (meaning "thick" or "stout") and the Latin caulis (meaning "stem").

All of the arboreal (treelike) species of Cactaceae are pachycauls, as are most of the Arecaceae, Cycadaceae and Pandanus. The most extreme pachycauls are the floodplains, or river-bottom, varieties of the African palmyra (Borassus aethiopum), with primary growth up to 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) thick, and the Coquito palm (Jubaea chilensis), with its primary growth measuring up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) thick. The most pachycaulous cycad is Cycas thouarsii at up to 150 cm (59 in) diameter. The tallest pachycaul is the Andean wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), at heights of up to 66 m (217 ft), and around 41 cm (16 in) in diameter. The most pachycaulous cactus are the barrel cacti (Echinocactus platyacanthus), with primary growth up to 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) diameter. The largest caudiciforme-type pachycaul is the African baobab (Adansonia digitata); one specimen of which, called the Glencoe baobab (from Hoedspruit, Limpopo, South Africa) has a basal diameter (not girth) of 16 m (52 ft). However, this particular tree has suffered a severe trauma and is dying. Pachycauls also differ greatly in their rates of growth, from the half-man tree (Pachypodium namaquanum) which grows only 5 mm (0.20 in) each year to the palm Pigafetta elata which can grow 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) or more in one year.

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👉 Pachycaul in the context of Euphorbia ampliphylla

Euphorbia ampliphylla (also called Euphorbia winklerii and Euphorbia obovalifolia) is a succulent rainforest tree of the montane rainforests throughout East Africa and belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. The branches are each about 20 cm (8 in) diameter and are succulent, three-winged and pachycaulous. Like most Euphorbia species, it has milky white sap. The toxicity of many euphorbias is well known, but no specific information is available concerning E. ampliphylla. It is used locally for medical purposes. It is one of the tallest of all known succulent plants, definitely up to 30 m (98 ft) It is also the world's only known succulent rainforest tree.

As most other succulent members of the genus Euphorbia, its trade is regulated under Appendix II of CITES.

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Pachycaul in the context of Adansonia digitata

Adansonia digitata, the African baobab, is the most widespread tree species of the genus Adansonia, the baobabs, and is native to the African continent and the southern Arabian Peninsula (Yemen, Oman). These are long-lived pachycauls; radiocarbon dating has shown at least one individual to be 1,275 years old. They are typically found in dry, hot savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, where they dominate the landscape and reveal the presence of a watercourse from afar. They have traditionally been valued as sources of food, water, health remedies or places of shelter and are a key food source for many animals. They are steeped in legend and superstition. In recent years, many of the largest, oldest trees have died, for unknown reasons. Other common names for the baobab include monkey-bread tree, upside-down tree, and cream of tartar tree.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Euphorbia ampliphylla ← Adansonia digitata
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Plant → Trunk (botany) → Succulent plant → Caudex → Drought → Oak → Maple → Eucalyptus → Plumeria → Primary growth → Arecaceae → Cycas → Secondary growth → Adansonia → Greek language → Latin language → Cactus → Pandanus → Borassus aethiopum → Jubaea chilensis → Cycas thouarsii → Ceroxylon quindiuense → Echinocactus platyacanthus → Adansonia digitata → Glencoe Baobab → Hoedspruit → Limpopo → South Africa → Pachypodium namaquanum → Pigafetta →