Alluaudia
| Alluaudia | |
|---|---|
| Alluaudia procera | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Didiereaceae |
| Subfamily: | Didiereoideae |
| Genus: | Alluaudia (Drake) Drake |
| Species | |
|
6, see text | |
Alluaudia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Didiereaceae. There are six species, all endemic to Madagascar.
Most occur in the southwestern subarid forest-thicket vegetation of the island.
Species of Alluaudia are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Spines are arranged around the leaves as a defense against herbivores. The spines are several meters above the ground, and probably evolved in response to herbivory by now-extinct lemurs, such as Hadropithecus. Several lemur species living today feed heavily on Alluaudia, such as the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) and the white-footed sportive lemur (Lepilemur leucopus).
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