''Portulacaria'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

succulent plant In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meanin ...

, classified in its own subfamily Portulacarioideae in the family

Didiereaceae 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. Seve ...

. It is indigenous to

southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost region of Africa. No definition is agreed upon, but some groupings include the United Nations geoscheme for Africa, United Nations geoscheme, the intergovernmental Southern African Development Community, and ...

Taxonomy

The genus was previously placed in the family

Portulacaceae The Portulacaceae are a family of flowering plants, comprising 115 species in a single genus '' Portulaca''. Formerly some 20 genera with about 500 species, were placed there, but it is now restricted to encompass only one genus, the other genera ...

, but according to molecular studies is part of

. 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.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

accepted the following species: *''

Portulacaria afra ''Portulacaria afra'' (known as elephant bush, porkbush, purslane tree, dwarf jade and ' in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa. These succulents commonly have a reddish stem and green leaves, but a variegated cult ...

'' 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

'' normally uses (or Hatch-Slack) carbon fixation but is also able to switch to

CAM Cam or CAM may refer to: Science and technology * Cam (mechanism), a mechanical linkage which translates motion * Camshaft, a shaft with a cam * Camera or webcam, a device that records images or video In computing * Computer-aided manufacturin ...

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 The Crassulaceae (, from Latin ''crassus'', thick), also known as the crassulas, the stonecrops or the orpine family, are a diverse Family (biology), family of dicotyledon angiosperms primarily characterized by succulent leaves and a form of phot ...

, 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

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2470203 Caryophyllales genera Flora of Southern Africa Succulent plants