caudiciforms

Caudiciforms are plants that develop a conspicuously thickened stem or root, called a caudex, which stores water and nutrients. The caudex can be elevated above ground, giving a bottle-like trunk, or lie largely underground as a swollen tuber. This growth form, known as a caudiciform habit, occurs in many unrelated plant families and is a key adaptation to drought and seasonal stress in arid and semi-arid regions.

Representative caudiciform genera include Adenium (desert rose), Pachypodium, Dioscorea, Fockea, Cyphostemma, and Euphorbia bupleurifolia. These plants vary in leaf habit, bark texture, and growth form, but all share a prominent caudex. Some species are fast-growing shrubs; others are slow-growing succulents that participate in ornamental collections and succulent cultivation.

Ecology: Caudiciforms inhabit deserts, savannas, rocky hills, and tropical forests, depending on lineage. The caudex stores water for dry periods; many species shed leaves during drought. Reproductive strategies include flowering on mature caudices in some species. They are often deciduous or semi-deciduous, with seasonal growth spurts linked to rainfall patterns.

Care and cultivation: In cultivation, use well-draining soil and a sunny position. Water sparingly during dormancy and resume moderate watering during the growing season; avoid overwatering to prevent rot. Temperature should be warm, with frost-sensitive species kept above roughly 10–15°C. Repotting is typically done every few years; prune cautiously to shape and encourage a robust caudex.