Portulacaria afra (Spekboom) occurs widespread in the Eastern Cape as well as in the eastern regions of the Western Cape. It is indigenous and flourishes in drier regions, but is very adaptable in areas with more rain. Propagation is easy when cuttings are used.
The Spekboom is evergreen and reaches a height of about 2.5m. The stem, which can reach a diameter of 20cm, has a corklike appearance. The bright green fleshy leaves have an egg like shape. As the tree ages the colour turn yellowish.
The English name, Elephant Food, originates from the habit of elephants to eat the top shoots of the "trees", causing the plants to grow and spread horizontally. Spekboom is extremely nutritious (rich in particularly vitamen C). The leaves have a dry, slightly acidic, taste (pick a leaf and eat it) and is starting to crop up in some recipes. (rawmagick.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/incredible-wild-edibles-olifantskos-or-spekboom/)
Spekboom have small pink flowers that occur in abundance. When in flower they turn the veld from green to pink.
Spekboom has an exceptional ability to take big quantities of carbon dioxide out of the air and convert it to oxygen. Ongoing research shows that 1ha of Spekboom can covert carbon dioxide to an average of 4.2t of oxygen per year. This makes South Africa very popular on the international carbon dioxide sequestration commercial market.
Spekboom also make beautiful Bonsai and are a good starter tree for a Bonsai beginner.
