It belongs to the family Didiereaceae, subfamily Didiereoideae, which is found only in the coastal area of SW Madagascar.

[1] Alluaudia comosa has a distinctive, easily recognized silhouette with a short trunk and dense branches that stop in a flat crown.

[4] This is a deciduous shrub to small tree 2-6 (-10) metres tall[4] that is woody, semi-succulent and spiny, with spines set singly.

[4] Leaves are developed mostly in pairs, set on a short stalk (petiole), dying off at the beginning of the dry season.

[2] This species grows on limestone in dry forests or coastal shrubland.