(Adenium socotranum) of the periwinkle family, Apocinaceae, is the giant of the genus, forming a massive conical trunk/caudex several metres tall and up to 2.4 m in diameter, the whole plant up to 3,5 meter in height. It resembles a miniature baobab with surrealistic forms. Some turn into tall trees while some may grow with their swollen bases more flat on the soil. This species - virtually unknown in cultivation - is frequently indicated to be a winter grower but the few plant observed in European collection are in leaf only during the summer months, leafing out even later than Adenium boehmianum.
Stem: Solitary or multiple bottle-shaped trunk/caudex, swollen, vertical, conical more or less distinctly striated (a unique character in the genus) the twiggy branches are few short and thin.