Portulacaria armiana
{{Short description|Species of succulent}}
{{speciesbox
| image =
| genus = Portulacaria
| species = armiana
| authority = van Jaarsv.
}}
Portulacaria armiana (previously Ceraria armiana), also known as the whipstick-porkbush, is a succulent plant native to southwestern Namibia.{{cite web|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:905012-1 |title=Portulacaria armiana van Jaarsv.|website=Plants of the World Online|access-date=9 October 2023}}
Description
It grows as a low shrub. It can be distinguished from its relatives by its large, grey-green waxy leaves, and its extremely tall inflorescence ("whipstick"), which rises unusually high (up to {{convert|8|m}}).
Within the genus Portulacaria, it is most closely related to its sister-species Portulacaria namaquensis.{{cite journal|author=P. Bruyns|author2= M. Oliveira-Neto|author3= G.F. Melo-de-Pinna |author4=C. Klak|title=Phylogenetic relationships in the Didiereaceae with special reference to subfamily Portulacarioideae|journal=Taxon|volume=63|issue=5|date=October 2014|pages=1053-1064}}
Distribution
Its natural habitat is the lower reaches of the Orange River valley of Namibia, near the border with South Africa. In this extremely arid, winter-rainfall area, it favours mildly acidic sands on high granite outcrops.
It grows in full sun in extremely well-drained soil, and can be propagated by seed or cuttings.{{cite web|title=Portulacaria armiana|url=https://pza.sanbi.org/portulacaria-armiana|website=PlantZAfrica|publisher=SANBI}}