Portulacaria namaquensis, synonym Ceraria namaquensis,[1] 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.[2] [3]
| Portulacaria namaquensis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Didiereaceae |
| Genus: | Portulacaria |
| Species: | P. namaquensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Portulacaria namaquensis Sond.
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
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.[citation needed]
Taxonomy edit
The species was first described as Portulacaria namaquensis in 1862 by Otto Wilhelm Sonder. It was transferred to the genus Ceraria in 1912.[1] A phylogenetic study in 2014 showed that Ceraria was nested within Portulacaria,[4] so the accepted name as of March 2024[update] is Portulacaria namaquensis.[1]
Its closest relative is the species Portulacaria armiana.[4][5]
Distribution edit
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.[6]
Cultivation edit
Its native habitat 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.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Portulacaria namaquensis Sond." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ^ "Ceraria namaquensis - Overview - Encyclopedia of Life". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
- ^ JSTOR entry: Ceraria namaquensis
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Ceraria namaquensis". www.cactus-art.biz. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
- ^ Annals of the South African Museum 9: 33. 1912. (Ann. S. African Mus.)
External links edit
