Adenium obesum
Adenium obesum
Safety & Hazards
The root sap or sometimes the wood or stem latex contains a powerful heart toxin and is used to prepare arrow poison. The poison is popular for hunting large game as it kills quickly and the hunted animal dies within 2 km from the place where it was shot[1, 2]. A decoction of the bark and leaves is widely used as fish poison[1]. Preparations from the plant are used as an ordeal poison and for criminal purposes[1].
Cultivation Details
A plant of the arid and semi-arid tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 2,100 metres. To grow well, it prefers maximum temperatures that often exceed 30°c; the branch tips are damaged at temperatures below 5°c; and the plant cannot be grown in the open when temperatures are regularly close to 0°c[1]. Although it originates from dry areas, it tolerates high air humidity well, which explains its popularity in countries such as Thailand and the Philippines[1]. Requires a sunny position. Requires a very well-drained soil[1]. Plants can endure a drought or cold-induced dormancy of several months as occurs in the natural habitat[1]. Plants grown from seed may flower within 1 year[1]. Under favourable conditions some clones can flower for 2 - 4 months, or even nearly year-round. Flowering stops when temperatures exceed 38°c[1].
Propagation
Seed - the viability of seed from cultivated plants is sometimes poor because of pollination problems. Viable seed should be planted in a sandy free-draining medium after removal of the hairy tufts and treatment with a fungicide. It germinates within a week at temperatures of about 30°c. Seedlings are ready for transplanting within 1 month when they have developed 6 leaves[1]. Tip-cuttings dipped in a rooting hormone, planted in a coarse rooting medium and well watered are most successful, and form swollen stem bases like seed-grown plants[1]. Cuttings must dry for a week, before getting planted[3]. Selected plants and valuable hybrids are often propagated by cleft grafting as this process is more reliable than propagation by cuttings, although it requires more skill[1]. Grafting onto oleander (Nerium oleander L.) is possible and leads to rich flowering[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-19. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Adenium+obesum>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [2]Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses. — von Maydell H. · Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany · 1990 · ISBN 3-8236-1198-4 ↩︎A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
- [3]Bihrmann's Caudiciforms — http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/ ↩︎An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.