| Habitats Of Pachypodium Of Southern Continental Africa And Madagascar |
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Information AboutHabitats Of Pachypodium Of Southern Continental Africa And Madagascar |
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The resolution of these subsection of The Pachypodium Genus is to explore the more Macro - Environment al conditions of continental Southern Africa and Madagascar . According to the aim of providing a general profile of the Habitats of the Landscape and Climate in southern Africa and Madagascar, the scale of the material covered here will go from highly general information to specific information of the species within the macro-environment for each section. ALTITUDE In the mainland African continent, ''Pachypodium'' are known to inhabit areas from sealevel 0 m (0 feet) for the Species ''P. bispinosum'' 1600 m (5249 feet) for ''P. lealii''. In Madagascar, the range is roughly the same with ''P. cactiples'', ''P. geayi'', and ''P. rutenbergainum'' inhabiting at sealevel 0 m (0 feet) to ''P. brevicaule'' reaching an Altitude of 1900 m (6234 feet), almost the upper most limit for the Genus . TEMPERATURE Average Annual Temperature regimes, established by Parametric --meaning; ''to any factor that determines a range of variations and especially to a factor that restricts what can result from a process''--varies approximately 13°C (55°F) for ''Pachypodium brevicaule,'' ''P. densiflorum'', and ''P. eburneum'' to 26.7°C (81°F) for the species ''P. decaryi'', ''P. rutenbergainum'', and ''P. windsorii''. In continental southern Africa, the extreme temperatures range from -10°C (14°F) for ''P. succulentum'' locations to as much as 45°C (113°F) for ''P. bispinosum'', ''P. lealii'', and ''P. namaquanum''. In Winter time, snow remains a possibility for Africa's south-eastern Mountain Grassland. Importantly the African species of ''Pachypodium'' live in Habitats with a Heat regime resembling greater Amplitude s than those of Madagascar. There, in the central part where most species come from, Frost occasionally occurs. One station there has recorded a temperature of -2.6°C (27°F) whereas another has recorded a low of -6.3°C (21°F). In the Sub - Arid Region s of Madagascar, the maximum temperature recorded can climb up to 40°C (104°). PRECIPITATION Annually in the southern part of the African continent the Rainfall varies from 75 mm (2.95 inches) for the ''Pachypodium namaquanum'' to 800 mm (31.50 inches) for ''P. saundersii''. The west coast of South Africa and Namibia receives annually less than 100 mm (3.94 inches) but the Fog coming off the Atlantic Ocean plays a significant role in maintaining Plant Diversity . Madagascar, on the other hand, can receive Precipitation from 344 mm (13.54 inches) annually for the regional habitats of ''P. geayi'', ''P. lamerei'', and ''P. meridionale'' to 1985 mm (78.15 inches) for ''P. baronii'', ''P rosulatum'', and ''P. rutenbergianum''. There is little commonality in precipitation regimes for ''Pahypodium''. Having said that, a precipitation regime for a species of ''Pachypodium'' depends upon a habitat's location relative to the influences of the Atlantic and India Oceans and the various mountain ranges and open expanses of southern continental Africa and the island of Madagascar. Yet, one common thread holds true for the genus: all ''Pachypodium'' are succulent plants making use of their trunks and their spines to inhabit dry, xeric climates. NUMBER OF DRY MONTHS ''Pachypodium'' represent the Dry Flora of continental Africa and Madagascar. The genus grows in areas where there are significant periods of dry months. This dry period can vary from 5 months for ''Pachypodium brevicaule'' to 10 or more months for ''P. cactipes'', ''P. geayi'', ''P. lamerei'', and ''P. meridionale''. It would seem likely that the Atlantic and India Oceans pay a big role in the creation of weather conducive to rainfall. The effect of mountains might also effect the localized conditions of the climate for ''Pachypodium''. SUBSTRATE ''Pacypodium'' grows in various types of , gravel, sandy soil, Dolomite , granite, schist, basalt, limestone, rhylite, and Dolerite . The more adaptable the taxon is to substrate seems to be indication of how specialized the species is within its habitat in the landscape and climate. Soil pH ''Rapanarivo et al.'' measured the PH levels for the Soil in half the sites of ''Pachypodium'' endemic to Madagascar. The pH ranges approximately from 3.5 to 7. Strictly Acid Soil s that had a pH level of 3.5 to 5 were preferred by ''Pachypodium brevicaule'', ''P. cactiples'', ''P. densiflorum'', ''P.eburneum'', and ''P. rosulatum''. The next level, acid to Basic Soils , with a pH between 4.5 and 7 were suitable for ''P. lamerei'' and ''P. rutenbergianum''. On soils with a Neutral PH level of 7, ''P. meridionale'' inhabit. ''P. sofiense'' grows on calcareous soils but also in acid soils with a pH level of 4. ''P. lealii'' grows on outcrops of granite in fairly Fertile , acid soil. External sources
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