| Portulacaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Portulacaria afra | |
 | |
| Mature Portulacaria afra | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Didiereaceae |
| Subfamily: | Portulacarioideae |
| Genus: | Portulacaria Jacq. |
Portulacaria is a genus of succulent plant, classified in its own subfamily Portulacarioideae in the family Didiereaceae. It is indigenous to southern Africa.
The genus was previously placed in the family Portulacaceae, but according to molecular studies is part of Didiereaceae.
It has further been revised when phylogenetic tests showed conclusively that genus Ceraria was located within Portulacaria, and all Ceraria species have consequently been renamed and moved into this genus. [1]
As of March 2024 [update] , Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: [2]
Portulacaria afra normally uses C3 (or Hatch-Slack) carbon fixation but is also able to switch to CAM carbon fixation when drought stressed.
It is a local delicacy and its leaves are eaten by the local peoples. It is also popular internationally as a garden plant. [3] Because of its superficial resemblance to some species in the family Crassulaceae, most of which are toxic, [4] the two are readily, and possibly dangerously, confused by people unaware of the differences.
Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions that allows a plant to photosynthesize during the day, but only exchange gases at night. In a plant using full CAM, the stomata in the leaves remain shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration, but they open at night to collect carbon dioxide and allow it to diffuse into the mesophyll cells. The CO2 is stored as four-carbon malic acid in vacuoles at night, and then in the daytime, the malate is transported to chloroplasts where it is converted back to CO2, which is then used during photosynthesis. The pre-collected CO2 is concentrated around the enzyme RuBisCO, increasing photosynthetic efficiency. This mechanism of acid metabolism was first discovered in plants of the family Crassulaceae.
The genus Huernia consists of perennial, stem succulents from Eastern and Southern Africa and Arabia, first described as a genus in 1810.
Didiereaceae is a family of flowering plants found in continental Africa and Madagascar. It contains 20 species classified in three subfamilies and six genera. Species of the family are succulent plants, growing in sub-arid to arid habitats. Several are known as ornamental plants in specialist succulent collections. The subfamily Didiereoideae is endemic to the southwest of Madagascar, where the species are characteristic elements of the spiny thickets.
The genus of the myrrhs, Commiphora, is the most species-rich genus of flowering plants in the frankincense and myrrh family, Burseraceae. The genus contains approximately 190 species of shrubs and trees, which are distributed throughout the (sub-) tropical regions of Africa, the western Indian Ocean islands, the Arabian Peninsula, India, and South America. The genus is drought-tolerant and common throughout the xerophytic scrub, seasonally dry tropical forests, and woodlands of these regions.
Portulacaria afra is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa. These succulents commonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen in cultivation. They are simple to care for and make easy houseplants for a sunny location. In frost-free regions they may be used in outdoor landscaping.
Piaranthus is a succulent plant genus in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae, in the family Apocynaceae.
Portulacaria namaquensis, synonym Ceraria namaquensis, with the common names Namaqua porkbush and Namaqua portulacaria, is a species of succulent shrub, native to the border between the Cape Provinces of South Africa and Namibia.
Portulacaria pygmaea, also known as the pygmy porkbush, is a small-leaved dwarf succulent plant found on the border between Namibia and the Cape Provinces of South Africa.
Portulacaria armiana, also known as the whipstick-porkbush, is a succulent plant native to southwestern Namibia.
Portulacaria carrissoana is a shrubby succulent plant found on the border between Namibia and Angola.
Portulacaria fruticulosa is a succulent plant found in southwestern Namibia and the northwestern Cape Provinces of South Africa.
Portulacaria longipedunculata is a small-leaved succulent plant found in the far north of Namibia and into southern Angola.
