Mesembryanthemum cordifolium

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Mesembryanthemum cordifolium
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Mesembryanthemum
Species:
M. cordifolium
Binomial name
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium
Synonyms

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium, formerly known as Aptenia cordifolia, is a species of succulent plant in the iceplant family. It is a creeping plant that forms a carpet of flat-growing perennial herbs in groups on the ground from a base. [1] Genus name means middle-embryo flower in reference to the position of the ovary in the flower. The specific epithet is derived from Latin for heart-shaped leaves. [2]

Contents

Description

This is a succulent, creeping, short-lived, mat-forming perennial herb growing in flat clumps on the ground from a woody base. Plants only rise to about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) tall but prostrate stems reach up to about 60 centimetres (24 in) long. The stems are green and stalk-round. The fleshy, small leaves are opposite, ovate to cordate, about 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long and covered with fine papillae.

Bright pink to purplish solitary flowers appear in the leaf axils, open during the day but close up at night and remain closed on cloudy days. These colored whorls are not petals, but non-functional modified stamens. Normal stamens are yellow. Flowers bloom primarily from spring to fall. The fruit is a capsule of little more than one centimeter in length with millimeter brown tuberose seeds. There is a variegated form. [3]

Names

The common names of the plant include baby sun rose, [4] heart-leaf, [5] red aptenia [4] or aptenia [5] in English, as well as rooi brakvygie [4] or brakvygie [4] [5] in Afrikaans, and umjuluka, [5] [ disputed (for: source possibly mistaken, umjuluka is word for Casearia gladiiformis) – discuss ]ibohlololo, [4] or uncolozi omncane [4] in isiZulu in South Africa. It is known as heartleaf iceplant in the US [6] British names may be heart-leaved aptenia[ citation needed ] or heart-leaved midday flower because, like many other representatives of the Aizoaceae, it opens its flowers only during the sunshine of the day.

Taxonomy

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium is an accepted name according to "The Plant List" [7] database, the primary source for the modern APG taxonomy of flowering plants. Formerly placed in the genus Aptenia and known as A. cordifolia, it was included in Mesembryanthemum in 2007 when the whole genus Aptenia was reduced to synonymy. [8]

Perhaps the most common plant seen under this name in gardens is actually Mesembryanthemum 'Red Apple', a hybrid with more vigorous growth, red flowers and bright green leaves, whose parents are M. cordifolium and M. haeckelianum. The true species of M. cordifolium has magenta-purple flowers and more heart-shaped, mid-green, textured leaves. [9] [10]

Distribution

Native to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, this species has become widely known as an ornamental plant. Today it can be found growing in Australia, [11] escaped gardens and naturalized in some parts of California, Oregon and Florida, in the Mediterranean region of the Europe and in central Mexico. The plant was recently determined to be invasive in California and was listed as a wildland weed red alert. [2]

Uses

The primary use of the plant is ornamental. The locals of the region of origin use the plant for its anti-inflammatory properties. [12]

M. cordifolium (A. cordifolia) contains the serotonin reuptake inhibitor and monoamine releasing agent alkaloid mesembrine and demethylmesembrenol. It was found to contain the second highest levels of mesembrine in an analysis of 21 different plants. [13] These alkaloids can also be found in Kanna ( Sceletium tortuosum ). Mesembrine likely plays a dominant role in the antidepressant effects of Sceletium tortuosum. [14]

Cultivation

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium can be planted as a fast-growing, not hardy, groundcover in flower boxes and around traffic lights. The plant needs a sunny spot and well drained soil. This plant is also ideal for covering walls, rockeries and areas bare of grass. Due to its quick growth, it is useful to prevent the growth of weeds in the field where it is planted. It can also survive without problems in a pot, where it is grown in hanging baskets so the long trailing branches can hang down with their leaves spaced out. Over-wintering should take place in a frost-free, sunny place at approximately 5 to 8 °C (41 to 46 °F). No serious insect or disease problems are known. In addition to the species and the hybrid 'Red Apple', one also encounters the variety A. x. 'Mezoo', a mutant of 'Red Apple' whose variegated leaves have creamy white edges, and rarely on a white-flowering form.

Propagation

It easily reproduces from cuttings of the developed stems, roots, seeds of its capsular fruit, and even from its own buried leaves. Seeds must be sowed in summer and cuttings can be done in early spring in cooler climates. For cuttings, the plant can be divided and runners can be planted directly into the ground. The garden bed must be readied by digging over the soil. Compost and a slow-release fertilizer may be added to ensure healthy growth. With regard to risks, it is very resistant to drought, but with moist soil it grows rapidly. It is convenient that the farmland has good drainage. It cannot withstand frost, where it freezes below −5 °C (23 °F).

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.

<i>Delosperma cooperi</i> Species of plant

Delosperma cooperi, the trailing Iceplant, hardy iceplant or pink carpet, is a dwarf perennial plant native to South Africa. It forms a dense lawn with abundant, long-lasting flowers. It reaches sizes of approximately 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall, with fleshy leaves that are linear and simple and can grow up to 1.5 inches long and a trailing stem that hangs down. These fleshy roots help provide the ability for the plants to recover and grow rapidly if a disturbance has occurred.

<i>Mesembryanthemum tortuosum</i> Species of succulent

Mesembryanthemum tortuosum is a succulent plant in the family Aizoaceae native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. It is known as kanna, channa, kougoed —which literally means, 'chew(able) things' or 'something to chew'.

<i>Lampranthus</i> Genus of succulents

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

<i>Anredera cordifolia</i> Species of vine

Anredera cordifolia, commonly known as the Madeira vine or mignonette vine, is a South American species of ornamental succulent vine of the family Basellaceae. The combination of fleshy leaves and thick aerial tubers makes this a very heavy vine. It smothers trees and other vegetation it grows on and can easily break branches and bring down entire trees on its own. Other names include lamb's tail and potato vine.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mesembrine</span> Chemical compound

Mesembrine is an alkaloid present in Sceletium tortuosum (kanna). It has been shown to act as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (Ki = 1.4 nM), and more recently, has also been found to behave as a weak inhibitor of the enzyme phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) (Ki = 7,800 nM). In an in vitro study published in 2015, researchers concluded that "a high-mesembrine Sceletium extract" may exert anti-depressant effects by acting as a monoamine releasing agent." As such, mesembrine likely plays a dominant role in the antidepressant effects of kanna. The levorotatory isomer, (−)-mesembrine, is the natural form.

<i>Delosperma</i> Genus of succulents

Delosperma is a genus of around 170 species of succulent plants, formerly included in Mesembryanthemum in the family Aizoaceae. It was defined by English botanist N. E. Brown in 1925. The genus is common in southern and eastern Africa, with a few species in Madagascar, Reunion island, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Delosperma species, as do most Aizoaceae, have hygrochastic capsules, opening and closing as they wet and dry.

<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>Mesembryanthemum crystallinum</i> Species of succulent

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is a prostrate succulent plant native to Africa, Sinai and southern Europe, and naturalized in the New World. The plant is covered with large, glistening bladder cells or water vesicles, reflected in its common names of common ice plant, crystalline ice plant or ice plant.

<i>Disphyma crassifolium <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> clavellatum</i> Subspecies of succulent

Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum is the subspecies of Disphyma crassifolium that occurs in Australia and New Zealand. It is sometimes known by the common name rounded noon-flower

<i>Senecio tamoides</i> Species of vine

Senecio tamoides, also known as Canary creeper, false grapevine, and parlor ivy, is a climbing member of the genus Senecio of the family Asteraceae that is native to Southern Africa. It is used as an ornamental plant for its showy yellow, daisy-like flowers in late autumn through to winter.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Succulent plant</span> Plants adapted to arid conditions

In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word succulent comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning "juice" or "sap".

<i>Crassula ovata</i> Species of succulent

Crassula ovata, commonly known as jade plant, lucky plant, money plant or money tree, is a succulent plant with small pink or white flowers that is native to the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, and Mozambique; it is common as a houseplant worldwide. Much of its popularity stems from the low levels of care needed; the jade plant requires little water and can survive in most indoor conditions. It is sometimes referred to as the money tree; however, Pachira aquatica also has this nickname.

Gunniopsis divisa is a succulent plant in the iceplant family, Aizoaceae. It is endemic to Western Australia.

Gunniopsis calva, commonly known as the smooth pigface, is a succulent plant in the iceplant family, Aizoaceae. It is endemic to Australia.

<i>Drosanthemum hispidum</i> Species of plant

Drosanthemum hispidum, the hairy dewflower, is a species of perennial herb in the family Aizoaceae. They are succulent plants and have a self-supporting growth form and simple, broad leaves. Flowers are visited by Colletes schultzei.

<i>Lampranthus aureus</i> Species of plant

Lampranthus aureus is a species of shrub in the family Aizoaceae. They are succulent plants. They have a self-supporting growth form and simple, broad leaves.

<i>Lampranthus spectabilis</i> Species of plant in the family Aizoaceae

Lampranthus spectabilis, the trailing iceplant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. The unimproved species and a number of cultivars are commercially available, including 'Tresco Apricot', 'Tresco Brilliant', 'Tresco Fire', 'Tresco Orange', 'Tresco Peach', 'Tresco Pearl', 'Tresco Purple', and 'Tresco Red'.

References

  1. ↑ C. Brickell (ed.): Encyclopedia of garden and indoor plants. Orbis, Munich 1994, ISBN   3-572-00685-6
  2. 1 2 "Mesembryanthemum cordifolium - Plant Finder".
  3. ↑ W. Haage: Cacti and succulents. Quelle & Meyer, Heidelberg 1989, ISBN   3-494-01143-5
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lucas, Norma (January 2009). "Aptenia Cordifolia – PlantZAfrica.com".
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Aptenia Cordifolia – Plantbook".
  6. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Aptenia cordifolia". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Mesembryanthemum cordifolium L.f. — the Plant List".
  8. ↑ Klak, Cornelia & Bruyns, Peter & Hedderson, Terry. (2007). A Phylogeny and New Classification for Mesembryanthemoideae (Aizoaceae). Taxon. 56. 737-756. 10.2307/25065858.
  9. ↑ Flora of North America Editorial Committee, e. 2003. Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. 4: i-xxiv, 1-559. In Fl. N. Amer. Oxford University Press , New York
  10. ↑ Wunderlin, RP 1998. Guide Vasc. Pl. Florida i-x + 1-806. University Press of Florida, Gainesville
  11. ↑ Prescott, A. & J. Venning. 1984. Aizoaceae. Flora of Australia 19-62
  12. ↑ J. Ettelt: succulent card index. In: cacti and other succulents. 3/2004.
  13. ↑ Smith, Michael T.; Field, Courtney R.; Crouch, Neil R.; Hirst, Manton (1998). "The Distribution of Mesembrine Alkaloids in Selected Taxa of the Mesembryanthemaceae and their Modification in the Sceletium Derived 'Kougoed'". Pharmaceutical Biology. 36 (3): 173–179. doi:10.1076/phbi.36.3.173.6350.
  14. ↑ Stafford, Gary I.; Pedersen, Mikael E.; Van Staden, Johannes; Jäger, Anna K. (2008). "Review on plants with CNS-effects used in traditional South African medicine against mental diseases". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 119 (3): 513–537. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2008.08.010. PMID   18775771.
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