Portulacaria afra undermining its own future

Being overly bold is a mistake in various circumstances. These Portulacaria afra trees with their succulent leaves and heavy, water-storing stems live on the brink at the cliff edge. They themselves are slowly causing the cracks in the rock that may bring them tumbling down one day. For now their endeavours steadily add to the cumulative effects time has on this spot: a new look every few days with dramatic change far into the future.

Climatic erosion, compounded by the continuous search of roots for moisture and nutrients, cause periodic dislodgement of pieces of precipice rock that make jutting cliffs retreat slowly forever, or until they are no longer cliffs. For surface rocks dont grow, are slowly eroded into components of soil.

Until these few and far between events of big change happen, the perch on this edge provides a glorious view to bird or small mammal for a restful scouting stop. Who knows, in a few thousand years this cliff may be transformed into a rounded hill-brow with scattered succulent plants capable of surviving on an earth too hot or cold for people.

The size of the plants in a spot as exposed as this says something about the capacity of the species and the nutrients within reach. Portulacaria itself may be a candidate for the projected plant list of the deep future.

And who might be around to draw up such a list?