Pachypodium Densiflorum Description: Pachypodium densiflorum var. brevicalyx is a local or morphological form of Pachypodium densiflorum distinguished by having the leaf blade tapered below into a short petiole, a shortly pubescent inflorescence, shorter half-size sepals (the green outer whorl of flower parts) only (1-)3(-7) mm long, slightly smaller flowers borne on longer pedicels (7-)15-24(-25) mm long, and hairs inside the somewhat deeper corolla tube. However the length of sepals in the standard Pachypodium densiflorum is quite variable (from 3 to 9.5 mm), showing a continous variation in sepal length. Therefore the sepal characters of the var. brevicalyx appear to fall within the natural variation Pachypodium densiflorum and it should be synonymized with the latter.
Taxonomic history: Pachypodium densiflorum var. brevicalyx was described as a variety of Pachypodium densiflorum by Perrier in 1934, but raised to specific status by Pichon in 1949. Rauh (1963) discussed its position in an article on P. densiflorum and came to the conclusion that it was merely a local variety of P. densiflorum. Markgraf (1976) treated it as a variety.
Derivation of varietal name: The varietal epithet ‘brevicalyx’ comes frorm Latin ‘brevis’ (= short); and Latin ‘calyx’ (= calyx) and means “with a short calyx”.
Pachypodium Horombense germination instructions
There is no pre-treatment of the seeds required.
The seeds are sown in mineral-based cat litter (no clumping litter) or perlite (germ-free) in plastic-pots or in pure cocopeat. Please sow the seeds on the mineral soil. Bigger seeds need to be covered with the mineral soil, small seeds should remain on the surface.
Then put the plastic pot in a ziplock bag – with a pot size of 6 cm , a ziplock bag of size 12 x 17 cm is recommended . Fill in the ziplock bag as much tap water with a few drops of universal fertilizer, so that after the absorption of the substrate a few mm of water remain on the bottom. Then close the ziplock bag – Ready!
More watering is not required because no moisture evaporates through the ziplock bag .
Location: on the windowsill or in a small greenhouse in partial shade, daytime temperatures at about 25-30C, somewhat lower at night at 20-22. The resulting micro-climate provides ideal conditions for germination.
Cultivation and Propagation: Pachypodium horombense is one of the most attractive species in the entire genus that can be grown both indoors, as well as outdoors in warm climates. It’s a moderate grower and an impressive caudex can be steadily developed. In the winters it is deciduous, except in very tropical areas. Pretty cold sensitive- supposedly prone to rot if wet in winter cold. It may be grown as a specimen among rocks and low-growing plants in a hot rockery. It may also be grown in a heavy container on the sunny patio.
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