Carpobrotus edulis

(Linnaeus) N. E. Brown

in E. P. Phillips, Gen. S. Afr. Fl. Pl., 249. 1926.

Common names: Hottentot-fig
IntroducedIllustrated
Basionym: Mesembryanthemum edule Linnaeus Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 1060. 1759
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 87. Mentioned on page 76, 85, 86.

Stems to 3 m; bark persistent, leathery. Leaves green; blade sharply 3-angled in cross section, widest proximal to middle, adaxial side concave, outer angle serrate near apex, 5–11 × 1–1.5 cm. Inflorescences: pedicel 20–60 mm. Flowers 8–10 cm diam.; calyx lobes 10–60 mm; outer 2 lobes sharply 3-angled in cross section, abaxial angle serrate near apex, 30–60 mm; inner 3 lobes smaller, with membranous margins; petals (including petaloid staminodia) 100–200, yellow, aging pink, 2–4(–5)-seriate, 30–40 mm; stamens 100 per series, yellow, 4(–7)-seriate, simple to plumose, 6–8(–12) mm; anthers yellow; stigmas radiating out over fruits, 8–15 mm. Fruits yellowish, clavate to subglobose, depressed apically, 20–35 mm. Seeds ca. 1000. 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering year-round, mostly spring.
Habitat: Coastal dunes, bluffs and terraces, margins of estuaries
Elevation: 0-100 m

Distribution

V4 179-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; Calif., Fla., Mexico (Baja California), South America (Chile), Europe, s Africa, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Carpobrotus edulis is extensively planted in gardens and along highways and is also used for dune and bluff stabilization. An invasive, introduced species escaped from cultivation, C. edulis hybridizes with other Carpobrotus species. According to W. Wisura and H. F. Glen (1993), pink-flowered plants are seen in the wild only when C. edulis comes in contact with species of Carpobrotus with purple flowers.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Carpobrotus edulis"
Nancy J. Vivrette +
(Linnaeus) N. E. Brown +
Mesembryanthemum edule +
Hottentot-fig +
Calif. +, Fla. +, Mexico (Baja California) +, South America (Chile) +, Europe +, s Africa +, Pacific Islands (New Zealand) +  and Australia. +
0-100 m +
Coastal dunes, bluffs and terraces, margins of estuaries +
Flowering year-round, mostly spring. +
in E. P. Phillips, Gen. S. Afr. Fl. Pl., +
Introduced +  and Illustrated +
Carpobrotus edulis +
Carpobrotus +
species +