Adenium obesum

Adenium obesum is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, that is native to the Sahel regions, south of the Sahara (from Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan), and tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and Arabia. Common names include sabi star, kudu, mock azalea, impala lily and desert rose.

Description

Adenium obesum is a succulent plant with thick, swollen stems known as a caudex that can store water during times of drought. The leaves are spirally arranged, clustered toward the tips of the shoots, simple entire, leathery in texture, with a shape that is broadly elliptic to lanceolate. The flowers are tubular, 2–5 cm long, with the outer portion 4–6 cm diameter with five petals, resembling those of other related genera such as Plumeria and Nerium. The flowers tend to red and pink, often with a whitish blush outward of the throat.

Cultivation and uses

Adenium obesum is grown as a houseplant in temperate regions. Numerous hybrids have been developed. Adeniums are appreciated for their colorful flowers, but also for their unusual, thick caudices. They can be grown for many years in a pot and are commonly used for bonsai.

Because seed-grown plants are not genetically identical to the mother plant, desirable varieties are commonly propagated by grafting. Genetically identical plants can also be propagated by cutting. However, cutting-grown plants do not tend to develop a desirable thick caudex as quickly as seed-grown plants.

The sap of Adenium obesum contains toxic cardiac glycosides and is used as poison for arrows in Africa for hunting large game.

Taxonomy

Adenium obesum is a variable species, and seven subspecies have been named. However, the validity of some of the subspecies is questionable.

External links

• The Plant List: Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.
• Tropicos.org: Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.