Portulacaria armiana
Portulacaria armiana (previously Ceraria armiana), also known as the whipstick-porkbush, is a succulent plant native to southwestern Namibia.[1]
Portulacaria armiana | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Didiereaceae |
Genus: | Portulacaria |
Species: | P. armiana |
Binomial name | |
Portulacaria armiana van Jaarsv. | |
Description
It grows as a low shrub. It can be distinguished from its relatives by its large, grey-green waxy leaves, and its extremely tall inflorescence ("whipstick"), which rises unusually high (up to 8 meters).
Within the genus Portulacaria, it is most closely related to its sister-species Portulacaria namaquensis.[2]
Distribution
Its natural habitat is the lower reaches of the Orange River valley of Namibia, near the border with South Africa. In this extremely arid, winter-rainfall area, it favours mildly acidic sands on high granite outcrops.
It grows in full sun in extremely well-drained soil, and can be propagated by seed or cuttings.[3]
References
- Portulacaria armiana van Jaarsv. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- P.Bruyns, M.Oliveira-Neto, G.F. Melo de Pinna, C.Klak: Phylogenetic relationships in the Didiereaceae with special reference to subfamily Portulacarioideae. Taxon 63 (5). October 2014. 1053-1064.
- http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/portulacariaarmiana.htm