Need help with my Aporophyllum (Oak Leaf Conquest)

I'm having a problem with my plant. It seems to be very brown at the trunk and I'm not sure if that's normal. Most of the plant is healty, but I have noticed that from the center out it seems to be turning brown. Is this an indication that it needs to be repotted?

Also, If I take cuttings off and put them in soil, will they grow? I didn't know if this is the right way to make new plants.

Appreciate any help I can get.
Thanks

Can you post a picture?

I agree a photo would help, because your title confuses me!
Aporophyllum and Oakleaf are two words I don't think I've ever seen together (referring to the same plant).

Is the brown section dry or 'mushy'?

I too need a picture as also dont recognise the names given, dont even know if it is an indoor plant, a shrub, tree or ornamental type garden plant, so further info would help even if you cant send a picture, the wrong information is worce than none at all, sorry for this answer but want to help if I can. WeeNel.

Aporophyllum is a sort of cactus, that's why the oak leaf part doesn't really make sense
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=aporophyllum&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

Good girl Ecrane, you have a brain that's fast as lightening.
OK I do grow this in my greenhouse, the base of the stems do go tough and brown, BUT, they are firm like they just aged, so if the brown bits are firm (you can scratch with your finger nail or knife) but do this gently, if the brown is firm you will just scrape away the outer part, if soft and mushy, you will end up with a gooey pulp on your finger nail or knife, if soft at all, then you have a problem with over watering or a fungus has got into the stems/roots of the plant, if firm and you see the lighter colour under the scrape mark, the plant is healthy but just aging. If soft tissue shows, you can remove from the pot to see how deep the rotten part goes, if too deep, cut this part off with a really sharp knife, burn or discard the bad part, wash the pot well or get new pot, ad a mixture of horticultural sand (from garden store) mix about 2 parts sand to 1 part compost, add a small amount of really sharp grit and mix this together to add to the pot, leave the cut end of your plant to dry off and heal, say about one/two days depending on size of plant, then insert the cut end into the soil/sand/grit mix, and set the plant out of direct sunlight, but not too shady till it recovers from shock of the treatment, once you know the cut stem has not started to wither (wrinkle) you can give a little water, water this way till you are sure the plant can support itself in the pot without toppling over, this indicated that the plant is taking up water, then water again each time you know the soil is almost dry or when the plant looks slightly wilted, they do like watered regularly in hot weather, but the soil mix I gave you means extra water will drain away, I dont sit my plant on a sauser as they dont like sitting in any water for longer than about an hour each watering, pour away any water from the sauser after that time, stick your finger into the compost to find out if it needs water, if damp, dont water, if dry water, it is as easy as that as far as watering goes, give a liquid feed come spring, every two weeks at the rate the manufacturers say on the bottle. these plants dont flower till a couple of years old, in fact mine never did for about 6 years, then every June/July, it is smothered in the most beautiful deep pink flowers that last only about 2 days before drooping, then a large red berry type fruit arrives and the birds love them, I remove mine as I dont want seeds, rather more flowers, best and fasted way to get more plants is by snapping a whole stem off and treating as I gave for your plant IF rot had set in, WARNING, these plants have tiny soft needles that get into your fingers and boy, do they itch, make sure you remove the whole needle. Good luck. Weenel.

WOW
Thank you everyone for answering. Sorry about the confusion of the name, but that's what's printed on the tag that came with it.

WeeNel, I'm so excited that my plant is only aging. I can't wait for it to have flowers. I know that the last 3 years in the summer, it gets very pink fuzzy tips and is very attractive, but I can't wait to see the flowers. Yes, I know about the needles.........most of the time I'm careful enough and wear gloves, but there have been occasions when I'm watering that I have brushed up against it.

I do have one more question, I'm getting ready to move and I live in NH and it will be the end of March when I finally move. If I put my plant in a covered box and get it into the heated car, and then back into a heated house, will that be enough to keep it from going into shock?

Have a great evening all.
Barbara