Ceraria namaquensis

Ceraria namaquensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Core eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Portulacaceae
Genus: Ceraria
Species: C. namaquensis
Binomial name
Ceraria namaquensis
(Sond.) H.Pearson & Stephens
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Ceraria namaquensis ("Namaqua porkbush" or "Namaqua portulacaria") is a species of succulent shrub, native to the border between South Africa and Namibia.

Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that it is in fact located within genus Portulacaria and has therefore been renamed Portulacaria namaquensis. Its closest relative is its sister-species Portulacaria armiana[1][2]

Description

Detail of the distinctive leaves

It reaches heights of 1.3 to 1.8 meters, and typically has small, ovoid, club-shaped leaves.

These succulent leaves are deciduous, and densely coat its stems. The stems are stout and grow upwards, forking. They are very slow-growing. Its flowers are usually unisexual.

Distribution

The natural habitat of this species extends along the Orange River valley, along the border between Namibia and South Africa. It has also been recorded near the coast slightly further north in Namibia.

This is an extremely arid, winter-rainfall area. In cultivation, it requires extremely well-drained soil, and is usually grown grafted onto a root-stock of the more resilient Portulacaria afra.

Synonyms

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/CERARIA/Ceraria_namaquensis/Ceraria_namaquensis/Ceraria_namaquensis.htm