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Other Taxa & Unknowns "somalense nova" "Thai Socotranum" Sahel Group Lake Eyasi mystery som. - crisp. intergrade A. coetanum? The Sahel Group Adeniums in the Sahel west of Ethiopia are of unknown identity. There are a few herbarium specimens, but no live plants in cultivation that are available for study. In photos the plants look much like A. somalense , but the leaves and flowers look more like those of A. "obesum ". If anyone has more photos or live plants from the Sahel (any country east of Ethiopia), please contact me . Above: Plants of Adenium sp. near Tintane (west of Nema), in southeast Mauritania; bush grassland. Plants from this region have been described as A. honghel ; there are no specimens available for study. Photos: Helene Jousse (via Jan Schlogl) Above: Plants and flowers of Adenium sp. near Tintane (west of Nema), in southeast Mauritania; bush grassland. Plants from this region have been described as A. honghel ; there are no specimens available for study. Photos: Helene Jousse (via Jan Schlogl) Above: Two plants of an Adenium sp. near Bénoué National Park, northern Cameroon. Plants west of here have been described as A. honghel ; plants to the east have been described as A. speciosum . There are no specimens available for study. Photos: Joel Peterson Back to Top Adenium speciosum? Left two: Plant and flowers of an adenium near Kauda, South Kordofan, Sudan. It looks similar to A. somalense in Ethiopia and Kenya, but plants from this region have been described as Adenium speciosum . Click to enlarge. Photos: submitted by Ricardo Denis. Adenium honghel? Left two: Adeniums near Bakel, Senegal. Right two: Adenium near Kedougou, Senegal; this is a mesic habitat for adeniums. Plants from this region have been described as Adenium honghel . The flowers at first appear to have dark throats, but they actually have pink throats overlain with very thick nectar guides. Click to enlarge. Photos: submitted by Ricardo Denis. Right two: Adenium near Yankari, Alkaleri, NG-BA, Nigeria. Plants from this region have been described as Adenium honghel . This plants's flowers look much like those above from Senegal. Again, the dark-appearing throats are caused by thick nectar guides. Photos submitted by Ricardo Denis. Adenium "somalense nova" This taxon was discovered in the mid 1990s in Tanzania, and is in the trade as Adenium "somalense nova". The name is enclosed in double quotation marks to indicate that it is not validly published. In nature the caudex is globular and buried underground, with erect, barely succulent stems to about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall. In cultivation seedlings develop a short-conical caudex that is partially exposed. The plants grow fairly rapidly and make a large caudex compared to the size of the plant in a few years. The small flowers start appearing sparsely at the end of the growing season in fall, followed by a more profuse bloom through the winter while the plants are leafless. They are pink to red at the edges, fading to a white throat with prominent nectar guides. The anther appendages protrude slightly beyond the tube. Another population that looks very much like this taxon has been found more than 100 km away. Adenium "somalense nova" collected in Tanzania. The caudexes were underground. Photo: Andre Williams Six-year-old seedling of Adenium "somalense nova" in a 16-inch pot beginning to flower at the end of the growing season. Six-year-old seedling of Adenium "somalense nova" in a 16-inch pot flowering during winter dormancy. Left and Right: Flowers of Adenium "somalense nova" . This group of Adenium "somalense nova" were grown by Hiren Vaghela. This distinct strain has very narrow leaves. Click to enlarge. Photos: Hiren Vaghela. Adenium "somalense nova" in the Wild Above: Adenium "somalense nova" east of Usambara Mountains south of Same, Tanzania. Right: Same plant with caudex excavated. This is a small plant. Photos: Chuck Hanson Back to Top Adenium "Thai socotranum" Adenium "Thai socotranum", also called "Thai soco", are not related to A. socotranum. They are in fact dwarf forms of A. "arabicum" bred in Asia. They are extremely popular, and there are many named varieties. See more examples in the Thai socos section in the A. "arabicum" page "Thai Socotranum" Photo: John Franklin Roosevelt Back to Top A. "obesum" near Lake Eyasi, Tanzania Anomalous adenium plants near Lake Eyasi, Arusha, Tanzania. This is in the geographic range of A. "obesum ", but the plants are unusually caudiciform. More important, the flowers are atypical of either species, but closely match those of A. swazicum or boehmianum hundreds of miles to the south. There is a population of these anomalous white-flowered, dark-throated adeniums growing on a rocky granite hill above a hot spring. Photos: David Bygott. NOTE: There are surely many other anomalous adenium populations in the wild. If you know of any, please contribute photos and other information to further our knowledge of these plants. Back to Top Right: ...and a gigantic specimen in the same locality. Click to enlarge. Photo: Chris Schmeling via David Bygott A. somalense-crispum intergrade? Adenium near Bulo Burri (Bulobarde), Somalia, between the ranges of somalense and crispum. The leaves appear to be linear and crisped like crispum, but this is a tree like somalense. What is it? These two taxa hybridize readily in cultivation. Photo: John Lavranos. Adenium coetanum ? An Adenium in the Dirashe District of southwestern Ethiopia, near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya. The plant is the size of A. somalense , and it occurs within the range of that species. But the leaves look like those of "obesum ", which begins in southern Kenya. The flowers appear to have dark throats,which, if true, is not characteristic of East African adeniums. This plant is not far from an herbarium specimen labeled A. coetanum . This plant also resembles the old cultivar 'Singapore ', which has been sold as A. coetanum . DNA analysis indicates that 'Singapore ' is an intergrade between A. "obesum " and A. somalense (Dimmitt and Edwards 2021 ). Photos: (contributed by Ricardo Denis). Left: This photo was taken in Ethiopia, where adeniums "should be" A. somalense . But the foliage and flower look like those of A. "obesum ". Perhaps this is what has been described as A. coetanum . Photo: Jim & Roxie Esterle Back to Top Footnotes

Species The genus Adenium consists of 11 phenotypically recognizable types in cultivation. There are at least 8 good species in nature, and perhaps several more (see map below). For ease of labeling, this site treats each type as a separate species, and I will use the names that are popular among horticulturists until the taxonomic confusion has been sorted out. Specific epithets (the second word in a binomial [scientific] species name) that have not been validly published and incorrect published names are enclosed in double quotes. (Very important: single quotation marks identify a cultivar name.) The taxonomy page summarizes what is known about adenium species, and the nomenclatural issues page summarizes the problems. See Dimmitt and Edwards 2021 for a detailed analysis. Adenium oleifolium swazicum boehmianum Southern African Clade socotranum dhofarense "arabicum" Arabian Clade multiflorum somalense "obesum" crispum East African Clade Ambiguous Taxa "somalense nova" "Thai socotranum" Sahel Group Lake Eyasi mystery som. - crisp. intergrade Approximate known distributions of Adenium taxa. The map was drawn from a rough sketch by John Lavranos, based on about 120 European herbarium records and his extensive field observations. Anchor 1 * 2021. Dimmitt, Mark A. and Taylor Edwards. Adenium Taxonomy and Nomenclature : Progress Creates More Questions. Cactus and Succulent Journal (U.S.). Vol. 3 no. 4, pp 252-266. Available as a PDF on request to the first author. Footnotes

Gallery of Superior Cultivars Intraspecific Cultivars "arabicum" boehmianum crispum dhofarense multiflorum "obesum" oleifolium socotranum somalense swazicum Interspecific Hybrid Cultivars "obesum" x swazicum crispum x "obesum" "arabicum" x "obesum" "arabicum" x "obesum" x crispum Rare Crosses Double Flowered Cultivars

Hybrids containing Adenium somalense nova & crispum Waiting for contributions

Adenium boehmianum Schinz Adenium boehmianum is closely related related to A . swazicum , and occurs on the other side of southern Africa in Namibia and southern Angola. It is an erect arborescent shrub, usually with barely succulent stems and only modestly swollen roots. In the northern end of its range it develops thick conical trunks. The leaves are the second largest in the genus. The flowers have broad petals that usually overlap, and are borne from late summer into early winter. This species shares a diagnostic trait with A. swazicum : petals are of uniform pink with no fading toward the dark throat, and very short anther appendages. A. boehmianum is uncommon in cultivation. A. boehmianum at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. The plant is about six feet tall. A. boehmianum flowers are usually circular in outline. Notice that the petal color does not fade toward the throat. Flowers and foliage of A. boehmianum . Flowers and foliage of A. boehmianum . Right: An example of pink flowers of A. boehmianum. Photo: Cheryl Acford Adenium boehmianum in the Wild Adenium boehmianum in Namibia. Photo: Dan Mahr Adenium boehmianum in Namibia. Photo: Dan Mahr Adenium boehmianum in Namibia. This one has a well developed conical trunk. Photo: Dan Mahr Adenium boehmianum in Namibia. Photo: Dan Mahr Adenium boehmianum in Namibia. Photo: Dan Mahr Adenium boehmianum in Namibia. Photo: Robert H. Webb Adenium boehmianum at Ojihipa, Namibia (Angolan border on the Kunene River). Photo: Ernst Van Jaarsveld. Flowers of Adenium boehmianum in Namibia on the Kunene River near Epupa Falls. Photo: Ernst Van Jaarsveld. Adenium boehmianum in northern Namibia, exhibiting a splendid succulent trunk. Photo: Ernst Van Jaarsveld. Adenium boehmianum near Okabadjia, Namibia. Photo: John Lavranos. Back to Top Footnotes

Dimmitt Adeniums is the comprehensive website for genus Adenium. We cover: plants in the wild, cultivars, care, and much more all from the mind of the master gardner Mark A. Dimmitt. This website is dedicated to the genus Adenium , commonly called adeniums and desert roses. My main purpose is to showcase their diversity both in the wild and in cultivation. I also provide guidance to cultivating the plants in hot, arid climates, based on my 40+ years of experience. The content was compiled by Dr. Mark Dimmitt of Tucson Arizona, with images and information contributed by many plant explorers and growers all over the world (credited in the photo captions) . The site was designed by Brian Rasmussen . I intend this website to be a comprehensive source of knowledge about Adeniums. I welcome your comments, corrections, and especially additions of new photos and information beyond what is already here. 'Beautiful Mule' 'OMG!'

Hybrids containing Adenium somalense nova & swazicum Waiting for contributions

Publications Taxonomy article Adenium: Sculptural Elegance, Floral Extravagance Dimmitt, Joseph, & Palzkill 2009 Adenium Taxonomy and Nomenclature Dimmitt & Edwards 2021 Adenium Taxonomia y Nomenclatur a Translated by Osmar Barboza (unpublished) Adeniums (Desert Rose) in Cultivation Dimmitt 2022 Adenium Culture in Hot, Arid Climates Characteristics of Adenium Species & Hybrids

Contribute Photos and Other Information Please help add to our knowledge about Adeniums. Criteria for contributing images and other information to this website Contributions of photos and information about adeniums are welcome. Contributors will be gratefully acknowledged. Please pay careful attention to the different goals: COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This fo rm is for submitting text and links to information sources. The latter is important: If the information is not your personal knowledge, please document where you obtained it - the first-hand source (personal communication to you), or a published article or website link. PHOTOS Use this form to contribute photos of wild plants, or cultivars that are substantially different from what is already on this site. A. Wild adenium plants : There is very little detailed information about the geographic distribution of adeniums. (There are only about 200 herbarium specimens from all of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.) It’s also known that their natural variability is much greater than what is represented in cultivation. Plants seem to be distributed in isolated populations, and some of the wild plants that I have seen photos of are diff icult to assign to a known taxon . To further our collective knowledge of this beautiful genus: 1. When possible, please include images of the plant in habitat , a close-up of the plant (s), and close-ups showing the leaves, flowers, and/or fruit . 2. Photos of multiple specimens are desirable for each locality to show the local variability. (For example, both shrubby-dwarfs and arborescent A. “arabicum ” can grow in the sa me locality. Flower color and shape can also vary greatly.) 3. Provide at least fairly precise locality data . -For example, “Saudi Arabia” is not useful, -while “southwest of Sanaa, Yemen” and “Jabal Shada, S. Arabia” are okay, and -“hills near south end of Lake Eyasi, Kenya” is good information. 4. Plants that are not along major roads are especially valuable. 5. Plants that are very different from what's typical of the region are also treasured. For example, the plants of "obesum"(?) near Lake Eyasi , Kenya, with flowers that look like those of swazicum; or "somalense nova", scattered populations among "obesum" territory. B. Cultivars : Acceptance of cultivars is more narrow. This website is not intended to be an encyclopedia of named adeniums. There are many thousands, most of which are no longer in existence. Criteria for addition: 1. It stands out among the multitude of adeniums in at least one major trait… 2. Or it is historically important , e.g., as the founder of a major breeding line. 3. And it is substantially different from other cultivars already on this website. 3. It has been propagated and distributed to others, at least locally. C. In all cases, please send large photos , at least 1500 px or 2 MB, up to 15 MB. Comments, Corrections, and Additional Information. First name Last name Email Write a message Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Submit Thanks for submitting! Contribute Photos Your Name Email Category of contribution * Required Wild Plant Cultivar For Wild Plants Location (specific as possible) For Cultivars Parentage (if known, e.g., arabicum x obesum, or arabicum 'Shada' x obesum 'Dazzler') Distinguishing Traits* Proposed cv. name Creator (if known), or Place Obtained Upload File Upload supported file (Max 15MB) Submit Thanks for contributing! Adenium 'National Beauty'

Adenium oleifolium Stapf Adenium oleifolium occurs in South Africa and extreme southern Botswana. It is the smallest species in the genus. The caudex is subterranean, the stems are scarcely succulent, and rarely reach a foot tall. Plants in cultivation have small flowers are usually pale pink, with yellow throats and prominent red nectar guides. The anther appendages are just shorter than the tube, or may be slightly exserted. Wild plants come in a wide range of sizes and colors from white through pink to dark red. Plant and foliage of A. oleifolium . The plant is in a 6-inch pot and is about 6 years old. Flower of A. oleifolium . Note the yellow throat and moderately long anther appendages. A. oleifolium selected for darker flower color. Three seed-grown plants of A. oleifolium, several years old. Nectar guides may extend partway onto the petals. Those of A. crispum usually extend much farther toward petal tips. The petals are often narrow, but not as quilled as those of A. crispum . Leaves of A. oleifolium are longer and narrower than those of A. crispum , and lack the white veins. Photos: David Palzkill. Adenium oleifolium in the Wild A population of A. oleifolium near Uppington, Northern Cape, South Africa. The flower collection at right shows some of the variation at this locality. Variable traits include flower size, petal color and width, presence and prominence of nectar guides, and length of anther appendages. The variation is much greater than in any other Adenium taxon that I know of. Photos: Dawie Human. Left: An old plant of A. oleifolium collected from the wild . In nature the caudex was below ground. Photo: Robert H. Webb. Back to Top Footnotes