Portulacaria

Portulacaria is a genus of succulent plant, classified in its own subfamily Portulacarioideae in the family Didiereaceae. It is indigenous to southern Africa.

Portulacaria
Portulacaria afra
Mature Portulacaria afra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Didiereaceae
Subfamily:	Portulacarioideae
Genus:	Portulacaria Jacq.

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

Portulacaria pygmaea (formerly Ceraria pygmaea)

As of March 2024^[update], Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:^[2]

• 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 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.^[3] Because of its superficial resemblance to some species in the family Crassulaceae, most of which are toxic,^[4] the two are readily, and possibly dangerously, confused by people unaware of the differences.