"It's interesting the way we choose "traditional" styles for the Jade's - I guess I wouldn't really know how one should look in a "natural" state "[img]images/btsmilies/smiley.gif[/img]
Can't speak for "normal" jade, but p. afra looks like a giant bush in nature according to the pictures I've seen! Not very bonsai-ish LOL. Course, several species we use turn into bushes/thickets in nature so....
Great theory on why p. afra is occasionally snubbed (too easy to grow)
. Oh.....and you can't *quite* plant a leaf, it will not grow anything other than roots (no branches!) unless there's a piece of stem attached too... But close enough LOL.
If anyones interested, there's a great discourse on p. afra at
http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/Portulacaria.html
More info than you ever wanted to know......not much in it about bonsai uses, but lots about it otherwise. And the author actually listens when you send him info he didn't have ! Thought that was pretty cool.
Okay enough posts without pictures...... I *will* take pics this weekend
.