Pachypodium bispinosum leaves and spines

The Pachypodium bispinosum leaf upper surfaces in picture are bulging and hairless but not smooth, ending in acutely pointed tips. The thinly succulent, dark green blades are hairy below, stalkless and sometimes curving up gently.

The long, thin spine pairs, beige or orange in colour, are mostly angled widely apart. They appear ready to inflict painful wounds on trespassers, be they herbivores or plant collectors.

Opportunely positioned among rocks as it lives here, it must be hard for porcupines and other digging consumers to do much damage to the plant’s caudex. It tends to recover well from sacrificing flesh, as long as the diner doesn’t eat everything (Frandsen, 2017; Smith, et al, 2017; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).