Portulacaria pygmaea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Core eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Didiereaceae |
Genus: | Portulacaria |
Species: | P. pygmaea |
Binomial name | |
Portulacaria pygmaea Pillans |
Portulacaria pygmaea (previously Ceraria pygmaea), also known as the Pygmy porkbush, is a small-leaved dwarf succulent plant found on the border between Namibia and South Africa.
It is a small, compact, soft-wooded, dwarf shrub with bisexual flowers. Its blue-green leaves are semi-evergreen. Its tiny compact branches spread, and often droop, staying close to the ground. It also develops a thick caudex or root-stock, which has led to it being a popular bonsai specimen.
Within the genus Portulacaria it is most closely related to its larger sister-species Portulacaria fruticulosa.