Pachypodium Habitats - Precipitation

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. These lower values of precipitation apply to the spiny desert and Madagascar dry deciduous forests while the higher rainfall regimes apply to the (eastern) lowland rainforests. 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. 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.