The Bottle Tree, scientifically known as Pachypodium lealii, is a unique native plant to Namibia and Angola.
It’s characterised by its swollen bottle neck trunk which stores water for survival in dry environments. The plant also has slender spiny branches and leaves clustered towards the tips.
But it should not be underestimated, as the milky sap is toxic with a lactic juice that was used as an arrow poison by Namibian hunters causing blindness if it gets into the eyes.
Pachypodium lealii is one of the giants of the genus; it is the largest of the continental African species, occasionally obtaining a height of over 8 metres (26 ft) in height. Of the continental species, P. lealii has the most arborescent form. It grows with a single, or sometimes double trunk, though damaged plants may have multiple trunks. The bark is pale and varies in colour from grey to creamy to tan to pinkish. The trunk is generally conical, tapering gradually from base to top. In very old plants the trunk can be more parallel-sided.
However tall P. lealii grows, it’ll be almost entirely branchless until the very top. The leaves grow on slender branches and are jealously defended from herbivores by sharp spines.
Around May to November the leaves will all drop off as the Bottle Tree diverts all its effort into growing surprisingly extravagant flowers. The flowers are pink to white and dark red towards the centre. It has shiny, leathery leaves which can measure up to 20cm in length.
The plant is protected and listed on CITES 2, according to Namibian.org
Tree Weaver 