DWARF ELEPHANT FOOD - SPEKBOOM - PORTULACARIA AFRA …
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Transcript of DWARF ELEPHANT FOOD - SPEKBOOM - PORTULACARIA AFRA …
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DWARF ELEPHANT FOOD - SPEKBOOM - PORTULACARIA AFRA 'MINIMA'Dwarf version
Dwarf Elephant Food is a low-growing variety of the usually upright growing succulent shrub. It grows toabout 6 inches tall with a 4-6 foot spread and is excellent for use as a groundcover. Elephant Food is
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named for being a favorite food source for elephants in Africa. An easy care plant that does well in partialto full sun and is drought tolerant when established.
Source: https://www.evergreennursery.com
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Portulacaria afra (known as elephant bush, dwarf jade plant, porkbush, purslane tree andspekboom in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa. These succulentscommonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen incultivation. They are simple to care for and make easy houseplants for a sunny location. In frost-freeregions they may be used in outdoor landscaping.
It is a soft-wooded, semi-evergreen upright shrub or small tree, usually 2.5–4.5 metres (8–15 ft) tall. P. afrahas smaller and rounder pads and more compact growth (shorter internodal spaces, down to 1.5millimetres (0.059 in)). It is much hardier, faster growing, more loosely branched, and has more limbertapering branches than Crassula once established.
It is very widespread in the east of South Africa. In this moist climate, it is relatively rare, and tends tofavour dryer rocky outcrops and slopes.
It is also found in much denser numbers in the dryer southern Cape. Here it occurs from the Little Karoo ofthe Western Cape, eastwards up until the thicket vegetation of the Eastern Cape.
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Ornamental:
It is popular as a specimen for bonsai, and as a hardy xeriscaping plant. Several varieties exist - some bredin cultivation, others naturally occurring:
"Limpopo": A variety with much larger leaves. It is the natural form from the far north of the species'range."Prostrata": A low-lying, decumbent form that is frequently used as a ground-cover."Aurea": A compact, upright form with rounded leaves that go bright yellow in the sun."Foliis variegatus": A variegated form."Medio-picta": Variegated with a lighter centre.
Food sourceIn Southern Africa it is commonly eaten, usually as one component of a salad or a soup. It should not to beconfused with the jade plant, which is mildly toxic.
P. afra is also used to feed livestock during periods of drought due to its succulent nature. Most commonlyused for cattle and goats, these plants also act as a supplemental source of water on top of their nutritionalbenefits for livestock.
MedicinalThis is one of the many plants used as a traditional treatment for skin conditions used by people in ruralareas that do not have easy access to more modern medicine.
Carbon sequestration and ecological impactP. afra is capable of either C3 or CAM carbon fixation, depending on factors such as the season and the ageof the leaves. In the dry season, it relies on the CAM pathway due to the lack of water, but when water isreintroduced, the plant quickly reverts to the C3 pathway in order to conserve energy. The maturity of theleaf tissue also matters because younger tissue is unable to completely seal the stomata, making CAMimpossible. So while the older leaves are able to switch pathways based on the season and conditions, theyounger leaves have to rely solely on the C3 pathway. It can sequester a maximum of 15.4 t CO2 ha−1yr−1.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulacaria_afra
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RAINBOW BUSH - SPEKBOOM - PORTULACARIA AFRA VARIEGATAVariegated version
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Portulacaria afra variegata (known as elephant bush, dwarf jade plant, porkbush, purslane treeand spekboom in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa. These succulentscommonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen incultivation. They are simple to care for and make easy houseplants for a sunny location. In frost-freeregions they may be used in outdoor landscaping.
It is a soft-wooded, semi-evergreen upright shrub or small tree, usually 2.5–4.5 metres (8–15 ft) tall. P. afrahas smaller and rounder pads and more compact growth (shorter internodal spaces, down to 1.5
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millimetres (0.059 in)). It is much hardier, faster growing, more loosely branched, and has more limbertapering branches than Crassula once established.
It is very widespread in the east of South Africa. In this moist climate, it is relatively rare, and tends tofavour dryer rocky outcrops and slopes.
It is also found in much denser numbers in the dryer southern Cape. Here it occurs from the Little Karoo ofthe Western Cape, eastwards up until the thicket vegetation of the Eastern Cape.
Ornamental:
It is popular as a specimen for bonsai, and as a hardy xeriscaping plant. Several varieties exist - some bredin cultivation, others naturally occurring:
"Limpopo": A variety with much larger leaves. It is the natural form from the far north of the species'range."Prostrata": A low-lying, decumbent form that is frequently used as a ground-cover."Aurea": A compact, upright form with rounded leaves that go bright yellow in the sun."Foliis variegatus": A variegated form."Medio-picta": Variegated with a lighter centre.
Food sourceIn Southern Africa it is commonly eaten, usually as one component of a salad or a soup. It should not to beconfused with the jade plant, which is mildly toxic.
P. afra is also used to feed livestock during periods of drought due to its succulent nature. Most commonlyused for cattle and goats, these plants also act as a supplemental source of water on top of their nutritionalbenefits for livestock.
MedicinalThis is one of the many plants used as a traditional treatment for skin conditions used by people in ruralareas that do not have easy access to more modern medicine.
Carbon sequestration and ecological impactP. afra is capable of either C3 or CAM carbon fixation, depending on factors such as the season and the ageof the leaves. In the dry season, it relies on the CAM pathway due to the lack of water, but when water isreintroduced, the plant quickly reverts to the C3 pathway in order to conserve energy. The maturity of theleaf tissue also matters because younger tissue is unable to completely seal the stomata, making CAMimpossible. So while the older leaves are able to switch pathways based on the season and conditions, theyounger leaves have to rely solely on the C3 pathway. It can sequester a maximum of 15.4 t CO2 ha−1yr−1.
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulacaria_afra
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SPEKBOOM - ELEPHANT BUSH - PORTULACARIA AFRA 'GREEN'Portulacaria afra (known as elephant bush, dwarf jade plant, porkbush, purslane tree andspekboom in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa. These succulentscommonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen incultivation. They are simple to care for and make easy houseplants for a sunny location. In frost-freeregions they may be used in outdoor landscaping.
It is a soft-wooded, semi-evergreen upright shrub or small tree, usually 2.5–4.5 metres (8–15 ft) tall. P. afrahas smaller and rounder pads and more compact growth (shorter internodal spaces, down to 1.5millimetres (0.059 in)). It is much hardier, faster growing, more loosely branched, and has more limbertapering branches than Crassula once established.
It is very widespread in the east of South Africa. In this moist climate, it is relatively rare, and tends tofavour dryer rocky outcrops and slopes.
It is also found in much denser numbers in the dryer southern Cape. Here it occurs from the Little Karoo ofthe Western Cape, eastwards up until the thicket vegetation of the Eastern Cape.
Ornamental:
It is popular as a specimen for bonsai, and as a hardy xeriscaping plant. Several varieties exist - some bredin cultivation, others naturally occurring:
"Limpopo": A variety with much larger leaves. It is the natural form from the far north of the species'range.
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"Prostrata": A low-lying, decumbent form that is frequently used as a ground-cover."Aurea": A compact, upright form with rounded leaves that go bright yellow in the sun."Foliis variegatus": A variegated form."Medio-picta": Variegated with a lighter centre.
Food sourceIn Southern Africa it is commonly eaten, usually as one component of a salad or a soup. It should not to beconfused with the jade plant, which is mildly toxic.
P. afra is also used to feed livestock during periods of drought due to its succulent nature. Most commonlyused for cattle and goats, these plants also act as a supplemental source of water on top of their nutritionalbenefits for livestock.
MedicinalThis is one of the many plants used as a traditional treatment for skin conditions used by people in ruralareas that do not have easy access to more modern medicine.
Carbon sequestration and ecological impactP. afra is capable of either C3 or CAM carbon fixation, depending on factors such as the season and the ageof the leaves. In the dry season, it relies on the CAM pathway due to the lack of water, but when water isreintroduced, the plant quickly reverts to the C3 pathway in order to conserve energy. The maturity of theleaf tissue also matters because younger tissue is unable to completely seal the stomata, making CAMimpossible. So while the older leaves are able to switch pathways based on the season and conditions, theyounger leaves have to rely solely on the C3 pathway. It can sequester a maximum of 15.4 t CO2 ha−1yr−1.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulacaria_afra
Read More
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