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Operculicarya pachypus

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Nice one! Photo by
Thomas Müller.


Found this nice plant at
Laurette E.U.R.L.


Esteban Suárez de Urbina Chapman's picture of his plant.


From a German botanical garden,
tagged P.
decaryi, which I doubt!

Author:  Urs Eggli, 1995
Family:  ANACARDIACEAE
Origin:  South-Western Madagascar
Soil:  Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  15-50 Centimetres
Height:  100 Centimetres
Flower:  Yellowish Green
Propagate:  Seeds
Names:  -
Synonyms:  -

This member of the Anacardiaceae family was described by Urs Eggli in 1995. It is found in a small area outside Toliara. It prefer a well drained soil, some water and lots of sun. The stem, or actually; caudex will grow from fifteen to 50 centimetres in diameter, the whole plant will reach one meter in height. The flowers are yellowish green.

The genera name from Latin operculum; 'little lid' and Greek karyum; 'nut', referring to the lidded, nut-like seeds. The species name from Greek pachys; 'thick' and Greek pous; 'foot'.

A. Randrianasolo  & P. P. Lowry, 2006: "This species most closely resembles (and is often confused with) O. decaryi, but can readily be distinguished by the distinctive zig-zag pattern of its branches".


Male flower by Ferdinand Poilodan.