Mesembryanthemum

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Mesembryanthemum
Mesambryanthemum nodiflorum.jpg
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Subfamily: Mesembryanthemoideae
Genus: Mesembryanthemum
L.
Species

See text for accepted species

Synonyms [1]
  • AmoebophyllumN.E.Br.
  • ApteniaN.E.Br.
  • AreniferaHerre
  • AridariaN.E.Br.
  • AspazomaN.E.Br.
  • BrownanthusSchwantes
  • CallistigmaDinter & Schwantes
  • CaulipsolonKlak
  • CryophytumN.E.Br.
  • DactylopsisN.E.Br.
  • DerenbergiellaSchwantes
  • EurystigmaL.Bolus
  • FicoidesMill.
  • GasoulAdans., nom. superfl.
  • GynicidiaNeck., opus utique oppr.
  • HalenbergiaDinter ex H.Jacobsen
  • HydrodeaN.E.Br.
  • LitocarpusL.Bolus, nom. superfl.
  • ManettiaAdans., nom. rej.
  • MesembryanthesStokes
  • MesembryanthusRaf.
  • MesembryumAdans.
  • Neo-aridariaA.G.J.Herre, no Latin descr.
  • NycteranthusNeck. ex Rothm.
  • NycterianthemumHaw.
  • OpophytumN.E.Br.
  • PentacoilanthusRappa & Camarrone
  • PerapentacoilanthusRappa & Camarrone
  • PhyllobolusN.E.Br.
  • PlatythyraN.E.Br.
  • PreniaN.E.Br.
  • PseudobrownanthusIhlenf. & Bittrich
  • PsilocaulonN.E.Br.
  • SceletiumN.E.Br.
  • SphalmanthusN.E.Br.
  • SynaptophyllumN.E.Br.
  • TetracoilanthusRappa & Camarrone, nom. superfl.
  • TrichocyclusN.E.Br.
  • VolkeranthusGerbaulet

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.[ citation needed ] 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.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Many Mesembryanthemum species are known as ice plants because of the glistening globular bladder cells covering their stems, fruit and leaves, [2] "... they sparkle like ice crystals". [3] In South Africa, Mesembryanthemums are known as "vygies" (from Afrikaans "vy"), although that term refers to many plants in the family Aizoaceae.

Species formerly placed in Mesembryanthemum have been transferred to other genera, such as Cleretum and Carpobrotus , although sources differ.

Etymology

Jacob Breyne coined the name of the flower in 1684, using the spelling Mesembrianthemum ("midday flower" [4] ), from the Greek roots μεσημβρία, meaning "noon", and ἄνθεμον, meaning "flower", because the species known in his time flowered at midday. In 1719, with the discovery that some species flowered at night, Johann Jacob Dillenius changed the spelling to Mesembryanthemum ("flower with the pistil in the center" [4] ), rederiving the first part of the word from Greek μεσος ("middle") and ἔμβρυον ("pistil" or "embryo"). Carl Linnaeus used the Dillenius spelling (with the "y") in his description of the Mesembryanthemum species and the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature requires the retention of the original, deliberate spelling. [4] [5]

Uses

Mesembryanthemums are often cultivated as ornamental plants for their showy flowers. Ornamental plants may escape into the wild and consequently have become widely naturalized outside their native range. They are considered an invasive weed in certain places.[ citation needed ]

Culture and society

Some Mesembryanthemum species are thought to be hallucinogenic plants, like related Aizoaceae, [6] and as such may be subject to legal restrictions (e.g., Louisiana State Act 159).

Species

As of March 2019, Plants of the World Online accepted the following 108 species: [1]

United States

Louisiana

Except for ornamental purposes, growing, selling or possessing any species of Mesembryanthemum is prohibited by Louisiana State Act 159.

See also

Related Research Articles

<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>Aptenia</i> Genus of succulents

Aptenia is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae. They are native to southern Africa. The genus name is from the Greek a- (not) and ptenos (winged), and refers to the wingless fruit capsules.

<i>Bulbine</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae

Bulbine is a genus of plants in the family Asphodelaceae and subfamily Asphodeloideae, named for the bulb-shaped tuber of many species. It was formerly placed in the Liliaceae. It is found chiefly in Southern Africa, with a few species extending into tropical Africa and a few others in Australia and Yemen.

<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>Argyroderma</i> Genus of plants

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

<i>Glottiphyllum longum</i> Species of succulent

Glottiphyllum longum is a species of succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa.

<i>Aizoon</i> Genus of succulents

Aizoon or Aizoön is a genus of flowering plants in the iceplant family, Aizoaceae.

<i>Cleretum</i> Genus of succulents

Cleretum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa.

<i>Erepsia</i>

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

References

  1. 1 2 "Mesembryanthemum L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  2. ↑ "Browsing: Aizoaceae". World of Succulents. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Smith, Curtis. "Ice plant". Southwest Yard & Garden. New Mexico State University. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Jacobsen, Hermann (1978). A Handbook of Succulent Plants: Descriptions, Synonyms and Cultural Details for Succulents Other Than Cactaceae. Vol. III. Mesembryanthemums (Ficoidacea). Poole, Surrey: Blandford Press Ltd. p. 1257.
  5. ↑ Oxford English Dictionary Online, s.v. "Mesembryanthemum, n." (accessed June 24, 2008).
  6. ↑ Watt, John Mitchell; Breyer-Brandwijk, Maria Gerdina: The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 2nd ed Pub. E & S Livingstone 1962

Further reading

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