Didieraceae

The Didieraceae is a small family of unusual spiny-stemmed succulents from Madagascar including the genera Alluadia, Alluadiopsis, Decarya and Didiera. Their extreme spinyness mimicks the Cactaceae, but their thin leaves during periods of active growth makes them easy to distinguish. Flowers are small and unisexual. However, the families are sufficiently closely related that cross-grafting is possible.
 
Cultivation: Didieraceae are hot-house plants and will not tolerate cold, but are otherwise undemanding. As with other leafy succulents, the appearance of leaves informs the grower that more water is required and less when the leaves are shed. Daily misting helps to refresh the plants, mimicking the nightly dews of their habitat.