Family: Aizoaceae
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 480 (1753).
Synonymy: Cryophytum crystallinum (L.)N.E. Br. ex E. Phillips, Gen. S. Afr. Fl. Pl. 245 (1926); Gasoul crystallinum (L.)Rothm., Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 15:413 (1941).
Common name: Common iceplant, iceplant.
Description:
Prostrate annual or biennial, covered with large glistening papillae; stems stout; leaves thick, flat, undulate, the radical ones ovate-cordate, acuminate, 6-12 cm long, the stem-leaves alternate or opposite, obovate, 2-4 cm long, those on the flowering branches alternate, all stem-clasping at the base of the short broad 3-nerved petioles.
Flowers on short terminal or leaf-opposed peduncles; perianth c. 10 mm long; lobes unequal, the 3 outer ones truncate, the 2 inner ones smaller; petaloid staminodes white, much longer than the perianth.
seeds reticulate.
| fruit opening under moisture fl= covering flaps, pl = perianth lobe s = septum. fruiting and basal leaf.
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Image source: fig. 115 in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 294.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: NU, GT, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE. W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Native to South Africa.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Sept. — Feb.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Uses:
Grown as a garden ornamental.
Author:
Not yet available
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