Portulacaria
| Portulacaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Portulacaria afra | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Didiereaceae |
| Genus: | Portulacaria Jacq. |
Portulacaria is a genus of succulent plant in the family Didiereaceae, that is indigenous to southern Africa.
Taxonomy
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]
Species
Species include:
- Portulacaria afra Jacq.
- Portulacaria armiana E. J. Van Jaarsveld
- Portulacaria carrissoana. Previously Ceraria carrissoana Excell & Mendonca
- Portulacaria fructiculosa. Previously Ceraria fructiculosa Pearson & Stephens
- Portulacaria longipedunculata. Previously Ceraria longipedunculata Merxm & Podlech
- Portulacaria namaquensis. Previously Ceraria namaquensis Sond.
- Portulacaria pygmaea. Previously Ceraria pygmaea Pillans
Uses
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.[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.
- ↑ Guralnick, L. J.; Ting, I. P. (1987). "Physiological Changes in Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. during a Summer Drought and Rewatering". Plant Physiology 85 (2): 481–6. doi:10.1104/pp.85.2.481. PMC 1054282. PMID 16665724.
External links
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Media related to Portulacaria at Wikimedia Commons - Portulacaria afra, the Elephant's Food or Spekboom: a monograph which contains some of the areas of both knowledge and ignorance pertaining to this plant, by Robert J. Baran, 1999-2010