Typical spiny vegetation in Spiny Forest

Note: I am unsure whether this is the Madagascar ocotillo or an Octopus tree, of which there are several species. I am sure though that it is part of the Didiereaceae family, containing 11 species

Most vegetation in the ultra dry spiny forest looks hostil: without juice, flowers and full of spikes. Still, this does not stop several species of bird from landing on them, as I'll show later.