Adenium
Adenium obesum (?)
Observed about 8 km from the west shore of Lake Baringo, Rift Valley, Kenya, Africa. October 2010.
Adenium is a popular plant for succulent gardeners and this species, including
its several subspecies and varieties, has been widely cutivated. As with many
plants adapted to semi-arid environments the stems and/or underground portions
can swell to store water and energy. And, also like many such plants this one
is protected by toxic plant-produced chemicals. The plant shown here was
growing in an area with heavy grazing by goats, which mostly avoid even nipping
the leaves. A variety of specialized insects, however, are able to overcome the
chemicals or even use them for their own protection.