Carpobrotus

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Carpobrotus
Carpobrotus April 2008-1.jpg
Carpobrotus edulis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Ruschioideae
Tribe: Ruschieae
Genus: Carpobrotus
N.E.Br.

Carpobrotus, commonly known as pigface, ice plant, sour fig, Hottentot fig, and clawberry is a genus of ground-creeping plants with succulent leaves and large daisy-like flowers. The name comes from the Ancient Greek karpos "fruit" and brotos "edible", referring to its edible fruits. [1]

Contents

The genus includes some 12 to 20 accepted species. Most are endemic to South Africa, but there are at least four Australian species and one South American.

Distribution and habitat

Carpobrotus chiefly inhabits sandy coastal habitats in mild Mediterranean climates, and can be also found inland in sandy to marshy places. In general, they prefer open sandy spaces where their wiry, long roots with shorter side branches form dense underground network, which extends much further than above-ground prostrate branches. Plants thrive well in gardens, but readily escape to other suitable places. They can form wide-area ground cover over a sandy soil, which suppresses indigenous sand dune vegetation when introduced to a non-native area. [2]

Carpobrotus is native to South Africa, the south coast of Australian and coastal Chile. [2] As an introduced species, it has become widespread in similar habitats in the Northern Hemisphere: the Pacific coast of the United States, the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe, and New Zealand. [3]

Ecology

The fruit of various species of Carpobrotus is eaten by many animals and birds, which also spread its seed.

Vast colony of Carpobrotus at the Pescadero Marsh Natural Reserve, California Ice plants everywhere (11724).jpg
Vast colony of Carpobrotus at the Pescadero Marsh Natural Reserve, California

Various Carpobrotus species are invasive introduced species in suitable climates throughout the world. The harm they do is variable, and sometimes hotly debated, when balanced against their value as firebreaks [4] and as food for wildlife. [5] Seeds are spread by mammals such as deer, rabbits, and rodents eating mature fruit. [6]

Uses

Carpobrotus acinaciformis and Carpobrotus edulis are often used for groundcover due to their rapid growth, dense habit, and resistance to fire. Carpobrotus are also drought tolerant.

Medicinal and nutritional value

C. glaucescens is noted for its salty fruit, a rare property in fruits. [7]

Carpobrotus leaf juice can be used as a mild astringent. Applied to the skin, it is a popular emergency treatment for jellyfish and similar stings. [8] When mixed with water it can be used to treat diarrhea and stomach cramps. It can also be used as a gargle for sore throat, laryngitis, and mild bacterial infections of the mouth, [9] and can be used externally, much like aloe vera, to treat wounds, mosquito bites, sunburn, and skin conditions. It was a remedy for tuberculosis mixed with honey and olive oil.[ citation needed ] The fruit has been used as a laxative. [10]

Species

Carpobrotus includes the following species: [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Carpobrotus edulis</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus edulis is a ground-creeping plant with succulent leaves in the genus Carpobrotus, native to South Africa. Its common names include hottentot-fig, sour fig, ice plant or highway ice plant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aizoaceae</span> Family of dicotyledonous flowering plants

The Aizoaceae, or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1800 species. They are commonly known as ice plants or carpet weeds. They are often called vygies in South Africa and New Zealand. Highly succulent species that resemble stones are sometimes called mesembs.

<i>Lampranthus</i> Genus of succulents

Lampranthus is a genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa.

<i>Carpobrotus acinaciformis</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus acinaciformis is a succulent perennial of the family Aizoaceae, native to South Africa.

<i>Mesembryanthemum</i> Genus of plants

Mesembryanthemum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa. As with many members of that family, it is characterized by long-lasting flower heads. Flowers of Mesembryanthemum protect their gametes from night-time dews or frosts but open in sunlight. There is an obvious evolutionary advantage to doing this; where sun, dew, frost, wind or predators are likely to damage exposed reproductive organs, closing may be advantageous during times when flowers are unlikely to attract pollinators.

<i>Cephalophyllum</i> Genus of succulents

Cephalophyllum is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae.

<i>Carpobrotus chilensis</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus chilensis is a species of succulent plant known by the common name sea fig. It grows on coastal sand dunes and bluffs and is used as an ornamental plant, and it is also edible. However, along with its even more troublesome cousin, C. edulis, it has invaded sections of the California coast at the expense of native vegetation, and is subject to control efforts.

<i>Drosanthemum</i> Genus of succulents

Drosanthemum ("dewflowers") is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family native to the winter-rainfall regions of southern Africa, including Namibia and the Cape Provinces and Free State of South Africa. Most species bear colorful flowers.

<i>Carpobrotus glaucescens</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus glaucescens, commonly known as pigface or iceplant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Aizoaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a succulent, prostrate plant with stems up to 2 m long, glaucous leaves, daisy-like flowers with 100 to 150 light purple to deep pinkish-purple, petal-like staminodes and red to purple fruit. The fruits ripen mainly in Summer and Autumn. It usually only grows very close to the sea.

<i>Carpobrotus rossii</i> Species of plant

Carpobrotus rossii is a succulent coastal groundcover plant native to southern Australia. It is known by various common names, including karkalla, pig face, sea fig and beach bananas.

<i>Glottiphyllum</i> Genus of succulents

Glottiphyllum is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae. It is closely related to the Gibbaeum and Faucaria genera. The name comes from ancient Greek γλωττίς glottis "tongue" and φύλλον phyllon "leaf". The species are native to South Africa, specifically to Cape Province and the Karoo desert. They grow in rocks and soils incorporating slate, sandstone and quartz. Rainfall in their native areas is between 125 and 500 mm, most of which falls in March and November.

<i>Argyroderma</i> Genus of plants

Argyroderma is a genus consisting of a dozen species of succulents in the iceplant family from South Africa.

<i>Carpobrotus aequilaterus</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus aequilaterus, common names: angled pigface, Chilean pigface, This species is thought to have originated in southern Africa and a naturalised weed elsewhere. However, according to VicFlora it is native to South Africa, It is also known as the sea fig.

<i>Carpobrotus quadrifidus</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus quadrifidus is a succulent perennial of the family Aizoaceae, native to the west coast of South Africa.

<i>Carpobrotus deliciosus</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus deliciosus is a succulent perennial of the family Aizoaceae, native to a strip along the south coast of South Africa.

<i>Carpobrotus mellei</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus mellei is a succulent perennial of the family Aizoaceae, native to the inland mountain ranges of the Western Cape, South Africa.

<i>Carpobrotus modestus</i> Species of succulent

Carpobrotus modestus, commonly known as inland pigface, is a succulent perennial of the family Aizoaceae, native to the coasts of Australia. It produces purple flowers which mature into fruits and is mainly used as a groundcover succulent or as a drought tolerant plant.

<i>Carpanthea</i> Genus of Aizoaceae plants

Carpanthea, called vetkousie, is a genus of flowering plants in the iceplant family Aizoaceae, native to the southwest of the Cape Province of South Africa. Low-lying succulent annuals, their flowers and fruit are edible.

<i>Nananthus</i>

Nananthus is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae.

References

  1. ↑ Hyam, R. & Pankhurst, R.J. (1995). Plants and their names : a concise dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 92. ISBN   978-0-19-866189-4.
  2. 1 2 Hartmann, Heidrun E. K. (6 December 2012). "Carpobrotus". Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae A-E. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 97–98. ISBN   978-3-642-56306-5.
  3. ↑ "Sea figs (Genus Carpobrotus)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
  4. ↑ Fern, Ken (1997). Plants for a Future: Edible & Useful Plants for a Healthier World. Permanent Publications. pp. 165–. ISBN   978-1-85623-011-7 . Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Bossard, Carla C.; Randall, John M.; Hoshovsky, Marc C. (2000). Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands . University of California Press. ISBN   978-0-520-22547-3 . Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "IPCW Plant Report – California Invasive Plant Council". cal-ipc.org. 2017-10-16. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Is there a salty fresh fruit?". www.abc.net.au. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Mabberley, D. J. (1 May 2008). Mabberley's Plant-book: A Portable Dictionary of Plants, Their Classifications, and Uses. Cambridge University Press. pp. 154–. ISBN   978-0-521-82071-4 . Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Uses & Cultural Aspects
  10. ↑ Watt, John Mitchell; Breyer-Brandwijk, Maria Gerdina: The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 2nd ed Pub. E & S Livingstone 1962
  11. ↑ "Carpobrotus N.E.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
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