New pachypodium or mis labelled

[Tina]

Hi All,
I got a few new plants recently & one was labeled Pachypodium ferenense, a quick google only brings up one hit, mis labeled, mis id, anyone got a clue

[Pattock]

Presumably found near Ferena, Vondrozo, Madagascar. I would guess that someone named it in their collection and have now sold or given a few away. Unless it was published in an offline journal and nobody has ever referred to it online or told Kew or MBG about it.

[Al Laius]

Possibly a misspelling of ‘Fiherense’ which is a form of P. lamerei.

Presumably found near Ferena, Vondrozo, Madagascar. I would guess that someone named it in their collection and have now sold or given a few away. Unless it was published in an offline journal and nobody has ever referred to it online or told Kew or MBG about it.

[Pattock]

Possibly a misspelling of ‘Fiherense’ which is a form of P. lamerei.

That looks probable. Unfortunately the only website that describes "P. ferenense" has virtually no information. However, if they are correct that it is from the "central Malagasy plateau, where it grows on granite hills" then it should be from the east and centre of Madagascar, not the west and south.

Pachypodium lamerei var. fiherense is said to come from eastern Toliara. Toliara is on the west coast. The only Fiher-something I can find that would fit is the river Fiheranana. That does originate in the hills somewhat towards the centre but not close to the Central Highlands.

The location of Ferena near Vondrozo seems to be too far west, so also not in the Central Highlands.

The Malagasy dictionary does not really help except to translate ferena as ulcerated or full of sores.

I wonder if "fiherense" is distinct enough to tell, when it flowers? http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCC ... _fiherense