Accession Count: 2
Common Name:
Jabily, Elephant tree
Family Name:
Anacardiaceae
Botanical Name:
Operculicarya decaryi
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Jabily is a small tree with succulent stems. It is considered a natural bonsai plant as it forms a bonsai shape without any pruning (1,2). They plant is very slow growing and only grows to about 5 meters tall (2). The roots of the Jabily are very thick and fleshy, allowing it to store water. The trunk of the Jabily swells up during growth and stems are thin, glabrous, form a zig-zag pattern and become very warty and bumpy with age (1). Leaphyllotaxy is alternate, with each leaf being odd-pinnate with 5-7 leaflets (2,3) Leaves are usually dark green and glossy, though in colder weather, the leaves take on a reddish tint (3) While the leaves are considered glabrous, they do have fine hairs sparsely arranged across the leaf surface. In the late winter, flowers will form on mature stems (2,3) These flowers that form are not showy. They take on a dull reddish color and are smaller than the leaves (3) following the flowering period, fruit forms. Like the Jabily flowers, they are also small, growing too around 2 inches. The fruit is a globose to drop-shaped. Drupe, with a woody stone seed.
Compound:
Ope dec
Geographic Origin:
Madagascar
Ecozone Origin:
Afrotropic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
This plant has had a short history, since it was only discovered in the 1940s. The Jabily was described in 1944 by Joseph Marie Henry Alfred Perrier de la Bâthie, who was a French botanist that specialized in plants from Madagascar. The name of this genus is from operculum, meaning small lid, and also the word karya for a tree with nuts. This is about the nut-like seeds that Jabily makes. The specific epithets of this plant, “decaryi”, honors the renowned plant collector Raymond Decary (2,3). This plant grows natively in south-southwest Madagascar. It grows at elevations from sea level to 1000 meters above sea level t (2).
Cultivation Notes:
This species grows in very harsh conditions. Fortunately, that means it is very adaptable to many types of conditions. This is a plant that is highly tolerant to drought (1,3). However, it does prefer to be watered in its growing season and to grow in well-draining soil. Propagation of the Jabily can be achieved by cuttings and seeds (1). The Jabily grows in USDA hardiness zones 9b-11b. They are moderately tolerant to freezing temperatures. They can tolerate temperatures down to -3 degrees Celsius (4).
Ethnobotany:
Research on the uses of the Jabily is minimal. However, species in the same family suggest it may have many uses. In the current time period (~2023), Jabily is not yet a highly cultivated species. However, many nurseries and growers are beginning to sell them and consumer demand for them as houseplants is rising (1,4).
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
ForeSummer
Flower Season:
Winter
Color:
Red
Function:
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
