Portulacaria

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Didiereaceae
Genus: Portulacaria
Species: P. afra – P. armiana – P. carrissoana – P. fruticulosa – P. longipedunculata – P. namaquensis – P. pygmaea
Name

Portulacaria Jacq., Collectanea 1: 160. (1787)

Type species: Portulacaria afra Jacq., Collectanea 1: 160. (1787)

Synonyms

Homotypic
Haenkea Salisb., Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 174. (1796), nom. superfl.
Heterotypic
Ceraria H.Pearson & Stephens, Ann. S. African Mus. 9: 32. (1912)

References
Primary references

Jacquin, N. v. 1786 [publ. 1787]. Collectanea ad botanicam, chemiam, et historiam naturalem spectantia, cum figuris. Vol. 1. Ex Officina Wappleriana, Vindobonae [Vienna]. 386 pp., 22 pl. Biblioteca Digital. Reference page. : 1: 160.

Additional references

Bruyns, P.V., Oliveira-Neto, M., Melo-de-Pinna, G.F. & Klak, C. 2014. Phylogenetic relationships in the Didiereaceae with special reference to subfamily Portulacarioideae. Taxon 63(5): 1053–1064. DOI: 10.12705/635.36 Paywall JSTOR Hybrid open access journal ResearchGate Reference page. 

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Portulacaria in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Mar. 7. Reference page. 
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Portulacaria. Published online. Accessed: Mar. 7 2020.

Vernacular names

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.[1]
Species
Portulacaria pygmaea (formerly Ceraria pygmaea)

Species include:

Portulacaria afra Jacq.
Portulacaria armiana E. J. Van Jaarsveld
Portulacaria carrissoana. Previously Ceraria carrissoana Excell & Mendonca
Portulacaria fruticulosa. Previously Ceraria fruticulosa 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] Because of its superficial resemblance to some species in the family Crassulaceae, most of which are toxic,[3] the two are readily, and possibly dangerously, confused by people unaware of the differences.
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.
Watt, John Mitchell; Breyer-Brandwijk, Maria Gerdina: The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 2nd ed Pub. E & S Livingstone 1962