Socotra: Socotran Bottle Trees
Socotra Island is the oldest isolated island landform on earth of continental origin, having separated from the encounter Gondwana when the Arabian peninsula broke off from Africa. And of all the ancient and unique flora, the Socotran Bottle Trees are the most mysterious and bizarre. Endemic to the island, Adenium obesum var socotranum, grows only here, taking root in mostly hard limestone rock on vertical cliffs and high mountain plateaus. And of you time your Socotra trip correctly for March – you get to see these amazing trees in spectacular bloom with big beautiful pink flowers. The evergreen plant is a succulent perfectly adapted for desert and rocky environment – it stores water in its trunk and branches, the leaves and flowers appear after the wet season, and its roots can grow in tiny rock cracks.
