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Adenium obesum subs. socotranum (Vierh.) Lavranos
CSJA 38(1): 23, 1996
Family: APOCYNACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Adenium obesum Roem. & Schult.
Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis [Roemer & Schultes] 4: 411. 1819

Adenium obesum subs. socotranum Photo by: © Plantemania
By far one of the most rare and desirable of all succulents it forms in age more of a bush than a small tree (like a dwarf baobab). The bizarre succulent stem may achieve a diameter of 2,4 metres. Apparently contradicting its strange appearance, the tree produces a mass of attractive pink flowers in the winter, as a result of which it is also known in the local language as the 'desert rose'.

Synonyms:

See all synonyms of Adenium obesum
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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Adenium obesum Roem. & Schult.
Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis [Roemer & Schultes] 4: 411. 1819
Synonymy: 19 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Adenium obesum f. albiflorum Lodé
Fichier Encycl. Cact. Autres Succ. Ser. 15: no. 1394 (1995), without latin descr. or type;.
Synonymy: 2 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Adenium obesum subs. boehmianum (Schinz) G.D.Rowley
Repert. Pl. Succ. (I.O.S.)
Synonymy: 2 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Adenium obesum hybrid hort.

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Adenium obesum subs. oleifolium (Stapf) G.D.Rowley
Repert. Pl. Succ. (I.O.S.) 29: 3 (1978 publ. 1980).
Synonymy: 5 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Adenium obesum subs. swazicum (Stapf) G.D.Rowley
Repert. Pl. Succ. (I.O.S.)
Synonymy: 3
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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Socotran desert rose, Aden rose of Socotra, sack-of-potatoes tree

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Adenium obesum group

  • Adenium arabicum Balf.f.: is similar in appearance to Adenium obesum, but creates a massive, more squat and fat caudex and has larger thick fleshy leaves. Distribution: Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
  • Adenium dhofarense Rzepecky: Has large, leathery and glossy leaves and very small flowers. Distribution: Dhofar coast (Oman) and adjacent mountains of Yemen.
  • Adenium obesum Roem. & Schult.: The trunk will get up to one meter in diameter, and the plant will grow op to five meters.
  • Adenium obesum f. albiflorum Lodé
  • Adenium boehmianumAdenium obesum subs. boehmianum (Schinz) G.D.Rowley: The flowers are similar to those of A. swazicum but the leaves are broader pale grayish-green.
  • Adenium obesum subs. oleifolium (Stapf) G.D.Rowley: succulent shrublet 12-40 cm high from a subterranean rootstock. It has long, narrow leaves frequently folded along the midrib. Distribution: Botswana, Namibia and S. Africa.
  • Adenium obesum subs. socotranum (Vierh.) Lavranos: It is the giant of the genus, forming a massive conical trunk/caudex several metres tall and up to 2.4 m in diameter. It resembles a miniature baobab.
  • Adenium obesum subs. socotranum f. cristata hort.: crested form.
  • Adenium obesum subs. somalense (Balf.f.) G.D.Rowley
  • Adenium obesum subs. swazicum (Stapf) G.D.Rowley: It is a dwarf shrub, up to 30 cm high, with an enlarged succulent stem with few branches. The caudex is evident only in young specimens.
  • Adenium somalense var. crispum Chiov.: is a dwarf form of A. somalense (less than 30 cm tall) with white flowers heavily striped with red or completely red and a large underground napiform caudex. Distribution: Coast of southern Somalia.


28566 plantemania © Plantemania
Adenium obesum subs. socotranum Photo by: © Plantemania
28560 plantemania © Plantemania
Adenium obesum subs. socotranum Photo by: © Plantemania

28562 plantemania © Plantemania
Adenium obesum subs. socotranum Photo by: © Plantemania
28563 plantemania © Plantemania
By far one of the most rare and desirable of all succulents it forms in age more of a bush than a small tree (like a dwarf baoba Photo by: © Plantemania

28567 plantemania © Plantemania
In habitat on the rock. Photo by: © Plantemania
28628 plantemania © Plantemania
Adenium obesum subs. socotranum Photo by: © Plantemania

28597 plantemania © Plantemania
Adenium obesum subs. socotranum Photo by: © Plantemania
28598 plantemania © Plantemania
Adenium socotranum seed pod. Photo by: © Plantemania

Your Photos
Adenium socotranum. In culture,
by Valentino Vallicelli

by Giuseppe Distefano

by © Plantemania
By far one of the most rare and desirable of all succulents.
by Valentino Vallicelli

by © Plantemania
There are a total of 19 Photos.
Click here to view them all!

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