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The southern Bush
General Lyautey, who ruled the South at the beginning of the colonial era, was describing the Southern Bush in these terms: if one is to get an idea of this, one should think of the most fanciful compositions by Gustave Doré illustrating witch stories, or Riou's creations of Jules Verne's imaginary worlds.
Not a single familiar plant. This is surreal... A forest from sub-marine fantasies, a forest of leafless trees sitting on a bed of cactuses and underneath, a thicket of fantastic trees: the rahondra or sausage tree, the famata where each leaf is replaced by something that resembles a pickle…
The southern Bush, Malagasy flora gem, consists of low, dense, drought-persistent vegetation, which adapts to arid climate.
But one should not picture the South as a spooky area dedicated only to thrill-seekers! Among the 38 species of Aloes for example, the Aloes Vaombe might be one of the most beautiful plants in Madagascar; its clusters of scarlet flowers scorch its surrounding dry landscape, and it blooms there for all of us to enjoy.