Adenium obesum var. Arabicum

The Adenium obesum arabicum is a remarkable succulent plant with a grotesquely swollen trunk, resembling a miniature baobab tree. It is a local or morphological form of the Adenium obesum. Previously, it was commonly accepted to be a separate species. It is monoecious and self-sterile.

The Adenium obesum arabicum maintains high popularity amongst 'fat plant' collectors. This succulent is similar in appearance to the Adenium obesum, but creates a massive, squatter and fatter caudex. There is little differentiation between its trunk and branches, making it the most succulent and "desert like" species.

The fleshy trunks and short naked branches are also somewhat colored in purple to dark brown. The Adenium obesum arabicum has larger, thick fleshy leaves. Its leaves are shiny on the upper and lower surface, unlike the Adenium obesum. It is an extremely drought tolerant plant.

Flowers, similar in many ways to those of Frangipani, range from pink to red. They sparkle when sunlight shines on them. The form of the plant varies in habit and most plants in cultivation are hybrids, yet only a few cultivar names have a valid description. Plants grown from seed produce the most interestingly shaped caudices within only 10 years!

Synonyms:

1. Adenium arabicum Balf.f.
2. Adenium arboreum Ehrenb.
3. Adenium coetaneum Stapf
4. Adenium dhofarense Rzepecky
5. Adenium honghel A.DC.
6. Adenium honghel Lindl.
7. Adenium obesum subs. socotranum (Vierh.) Lavranos
8. Adenium obesum subs. socotranum f. cristata hort.
9. Adenium obesum subs. somalense (Balf.f.) G.D.Rowley
10. Adenium somalense var. caudatipetalum Chiov.
11. Adenium somalense var. crispum Chiov.
12. Adenium tricholepis Chiov.