Portulacaria armiana
| Portulacaria armiana | |
|---|---|
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. | |
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 metres (26 ft)).
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 (October 2014). "Phylogenetic relationships in the Didiereaceae with special reference to subfamily Portulacarioideae". Taxon. 63 (5): 1053–1064.
- ^ "Portulacaria armiana". PlantZAfrica. SANBI.