Portulacaria armiana explained

Portulacaria armiana (previously Ceraria armiana), also known as the whipstick-porkbush, is a succulent plant native to southwestern Namibia.[1]

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]

Notes and References

  1. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:905012-1 Portulacaria armiana van Jaarsv.
  2. 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.
  3. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/portulacariaarmiana.htm