Pachypodium namaquanum flowers

The tubular flowers of Pachypodium namaquanum are about 5 cm long and 1 cm in diameter, growing in a many-flowered cyme on top of the erect stem.

The rounded corolla lobes continue in the direction of the tubular structure, the also five-lobed calyx small at the back of each flower. The flowers point up, exceeding the mass of wavy and velvety leaves, not wasting pollinator opportunities. The flowers are pale cream or creamy green and softly downy on the outside, maroon to wine-red on the inside.

The five stamens inside the corolla have their filament bases attached above the tube constriction. The stamens are joined in a cone, the anthers shaped like arrow heads with short appendages at their tips. The ovary comprises two free carpels.

The fruits are paired, dry capsules, about 4 cm long and densely covered in grey hairs. The capsules split open when ripe. The seeds have long-haired attachments at one end facilitating wind dispersal (Mannheimer and Curtis, (Ed.), 2009; Coates Palgrave, 2002).