The Scrophulariaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the figwort family. The plants are annual and perennial herbs, as well as one genus of shrubs. Flowers have bilateral (zygomorphic) or rarely radial (actinomorphic) symmetry. The Scrophulariaceae have a cosmopolitan distribution, with the majority found in temperate areas, including tropical mountains. The family name is based on the name of the included genus Scrophularia L.
Pachypodium habitats consist of isolated, specialized, micro–environmental niches, generally xeric, rocky, frost-free areas within parts of western Madagascar and southern Africa. Pachypodium species are often indifferent to the regional ecological, biotic zone of vegetation, a fact which explains some of Pachypodium morphology and architecture. The large scale vegetation zones are in some cases irrelevant to the micro-environments of Pachypodium, in the sense that the xeric niches may be embedded in larger mesic biomes.
The Madagascar spiny forests is an ecoregion in the southwest of Madagascar. The vegetation type is found on poor substrates with low, erratic winter rainfall. The ecoregion contains an outstanding proportion of endemic plant species and is listed as one of the 200 most important ecological regions in the world; one of the Global 200.
Isalo National Park is a National Park in the Ihorombe Region of Madagascar, in the southwestern corner of the Province of Fianarantsoa. The closest town is Ranohira, and the closest cities are Toliara and Ihosy. It is a sandstone landscape that has been dissected by wind and water erosion into rocky outcrops, plateaus, extensive plains and up to 200 m deep canyons. There are permanent rivers and streams as well as many seasonal watercourses. Elevation varies between 510 and 1268 m.
Genlisea margaretae is a carnivorous species in the genus Genlisea native to areas of Madagascar, Tanzania, and Zambia. It has pale bundles of root-like organs up to about 20 cm long under ground that attract, trap, and digest protozoans. These organs are subterranean leaves, which lack chlorophyll. It had been known to possess the smallest known genome of any flowering plant as of 2006, but was later surpassed by the related species Genlisea tuberosa.
Linderniaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales, which consists of about 25 genera and 265 species occurring worldwide. Vandellia micrantha is eaten in Laos, but tastes bitter. Best known are the wishbone flowers Torenia fournieri and Torenia thouarsii, which are used as bedding plants especially in the tropics. Micranthemum is sold as an aquarium plant when it is called 'baby tears'.
Wilhelm Barthlott is a German botanist and biomimetic materials scientist. His official botanical author citation is “Barthlott”.
Pentachlaena is a genus of flowering plant belonging to the Sarcolaenaceae family, endemic to Madagascar. It was first scientifically described in 1920.
The flora of Madagascar consists of more than 12,000 species of plants, as well as a poorly known number of fungi and algae. Around 83% of Madagascar's vascular plants are found only on the island. These endemics include five plant families, 85% of the over 900 orchid species, around 200 species of palms, and such emblematic species as the traveller's tree, six species of baobab and the Madagascar periwinkle. The high degree of endemism is due to Madagascar's long isolation following its separation from the African and Indian landmasses in the Mesozoic, 150–160 and 84–91 million years ago, respectively. However, few plant lineages remain from the ancient Gondwanan flora; most extant plant groups immigrated via across-ocean dispersal well after continental break-up.
Decanema is a small genus in the dogbane family first described as a genus in 1838. The group is endemic to Madagascar.
- Decanema bojerianumDecne. - Madagascar
- Decanema luteifluensJum. & H.Perrier - Madagascar
Mediusella bernieri is a plant in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.
Xerochlamys is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Sarcolaenaceae. The species are all endemic to Madagascar.
Xerochlamys itremoensis is a shrub in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.
Rhodolaena is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Sarcolaenaceae. The species are all endemic to Madagascar. The monophyly of the genus is unresolved.
Rhodolaena leroyana is a plant in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar. The specific epithet is for the botanist Jean-François Leroy.
Schizolaena gereaui is a plant in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar. The specific epithet is for the botanist Roy Emile Gereau.
Eremolaena humblotiana is a plant in the family Sarcolaenaceae. The species is endemic to Madagascar. It is named for the French naturalist Léon Humblot.
Schizolaena raymondii is a tree in the family Sarcolaenaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar. It is named for the botanist Raymond Rabevohitra.
Megistostegium is a genus of trees and shrubs in the family Malvaceae. The species are all endemic to Madagascar. The genus is threatened by livestock grazing, invasive plants and threats to pollinators.
Megistostegium perrieri is a plant in the family Malvaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar.
