Xerosicyos
| Xerosicyos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Silver dollar plant (Xerosicyos danguyi) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Cucurbitales |
| Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Subfamily: | Zanonioideae |
| Tribe: | Zanonieae |
| Subtribe: | Zanoniinae |
| Genus: | Xerosicyos Humbert |
| Species | |
|
Xerosicyos danguyi - silver dollar plant | |
Xerosicyos is a flowering plant genus of the family Cucurbitaceae. Its name comes from Greek xeros (meaning "dry") and sicyos ("cucumber"). There are three species, all endemic to Madagascar. Xerosicyos danguyi is a large liana with thick stems and round, gray succulent leaves. It is common in cultivation and often called the "Silver Dollar" vine. Xerosicyos perrieri is also a liana with thinner stems and smaller, ovate green succulent leaves. Xerosicyos pubescens is entirely different from the previous species. It forms a large caudex from which deciduous vines emerge. The leaves are lobed and semi-succulent and die back in the dry season and during prolonged periods of drought.