Species

Carpobrotus edulis

Etymology

Carpobrotus: From the Greek karpos 'fruit' and brotus 'edible', the fruits of some species being edible.

Common Name(s)

ice plant

Authority

Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Brown

Family

Aizoaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

CAREDU

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Habitat

Terrestrial. Coastal

Features

Mat-forming trailing perennial herb. Stems to about 6 m long, occasionally rooting, subwoody at base. Leaves sharply 3-angled. Flowers 8-10 cm diameter, petals pale yellow turning pink with age.

Similar Taxa

Very similar to C. chilensis but can be distinguished when flowering by its yellow rather than purple petals, fading to dull pink.

Flowering

October, November, December, January, February

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,Yellow

Year Naturalised

1883

Origin

S. Africa

Reason For Introduction

Ornamental.

Life Cycle Comments

Perennial.

This page last updated on 30 Jul 2014