Stats

Lifespan: Perennial
Size: Large
Diet: Photosynthetic
Biome: Arid shrubland
Range: Southern Africa
Movement: Sessile
Breeding: Seeds
Defense: Succulence
Status: Uncommon

About

This resilient succulent is a favorite snack for wild elephants, who munch on its fleshy green leaves to stay hydrated in the hot sun. It is a superstar at cleaning the air, helping the planet breathe easier by soaking up extra carbon from the atmosphere.

Life cycle

1.
seed
A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2.
sprout
A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3.
sapling
A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4.
mature
Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Didiereaceae
Genus: Portulacaria
Species: Portulacaria afra