Portulacaria armiana
| Portulacaria armiana | |
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| Species: | P. armiana
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| Binomial name | |
| Portulacaria armiana Van Jaarsveld
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Portulacaria armiana (previously Ceraria armiana), also known as the Whipstick-porkbush is a succulent plant found on the border between Namibia and South Africa.
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.[1]
Distribution
Its natural habitat is the lower reaches of the Orange River valley, on the border between Namibia and 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.[2]
References
- ^ 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