Portulacaria is a genus of succulent plant, classified in its own subfamily Portulacarioideae in the family Didiereaceae. It 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.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.
Species
, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: Portulacaria afra Jacq. Portulacaria armiana van Jaarsv. Portulacaria carrissoana (Exell & Mendonça) Bruyns & Klak, syn. Ceraria carrissoana Excell & Mendonca Portulacaria fruticulosa (H.Pearson & Stephens) Bruyns & Klak, syn. Ceraria fruticulosa Pearson & Stephens Portulacaria longipedunculata (Merxm. & Podlech) Bruyns & Klak, syn. Ceraria longipedunculata Merxm & Podlech Portulacaria namaquensis Sond., syn. Ceraria namaquensis Sond. Portulacaria pygmaea Pillans, syn. Ceraria pygmaea Pillans
Uses Portulacaria afra normally uses (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. Because of its superficial resemblance to some species in the family Crassulaceae, most of which are toxic,Watt, John Mitchell; Breyer-Brandwijk, Maria Gerdina: The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 2nd ed Pub. E & S Livingstone 1962 the two are readily, and possibly dangerously, confused by people unaware of the differences.
References