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iceplant

slender-leaf iceplant, small flower iceplant

Habit Herbs, annual or perennial, usually short-lived, succulent, usually conspicuously papillate, glabrous. Plants annual.
Roots

fibrous.

Stems

prostrate to ascending.

prostrate to ascending, branched from base, 15–20 cm, sessile.

Leaves

basal and cauline, alternate or opposite, sessile or petiolate;

stipules absent;

blade reddish with age, flat or terete, margins often undulate.

blade ± terete, linear, 1–2 cm.

Inflorescences

terminal or axillary, flowers solitary or in cymes;

bracts absent or 1–2, sessile or pedicellate.

axillary, flowers solitary, sessile or petiolate;

bracts absent.

Flowers

showy, 4–10[–20] mm diam., tubular;

calyx lobes (4–) 5, 2 often leaflike;

petals (including petaloid staminodia) 20–40[–150], distinct or connate into short tube, free, white, pink, or yellowish, linear;

nectary glands 5;

stamens 30[–120];

pistil (4–)5-carpellate;

ovary half-inferior, (4–)5-loculed, convex;

placentation axile;

stigmas (4–)5, erect, filiform.

4–5 mm diam.;

hypanthium obconic;

calyx lobes 5, equal;

petals 20, connate, white, aging yellow;

stamens 10.

Fruits

capsules, persistent, valves (4–)5, with expanding interior keels when moistened, forming capsule lids when dried, dehiscence loculicidal.

Capsules

finely papillate.

Seeds

100–200, black or dark [light] reddish brown [ochre or whitish], compressed [globose], often with 1 straight edge, 1 mm, smooth to rough with minute tubercles;

arils absent.

100, smooth to minutely tuberculate.

2n

= 36.

Mesembryanthemum

Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum

Phenology Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat Coastal bluffs, margins of saline wetlands
Elevation 0-100 m [0-300 ft]
Distribution
map from USDA
s Africa; w Africa [Introduced in North America; also introduced in Mexico, South America, Europe (Mediterranean), Asia, Atlantic Islands, Australia]
[BONAP county map]
map from FNA
CA; NJ; Mexico (Baja California); Europe (Mediterranean); Asia; Atlantic Islands; Australia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Species 74 (2 in the flora).

As described here, Mesembryanthemum is the narrowly delineated genus sensu H. M. L. Bolus (1928–1958, part 3, p. 164, fig. 25).

The ability of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum and M. nodiflorum to accumulate and release salt into the surrounding soil is one mechanism by which these species dominate disturbed areas (N. J. Vivrette and C. H. Muller 1977; N. J. Vivrette 1980).

Etymology: Greek mesembria, midday, and anthemum, blo oming

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Parent taxa Aizoaceae Aizoaceae > Mesembryanthemum
Sibling taxa
M. crystallinum
Subordinate taxa
M. crystallinum, M. nodiflorum
Key
1. Leaves flat; flowers 7-10 mm diam
M. crystallinum
1. Leaves ±terete; flowers 4-5 mm diam
M. nodiflorum
Synonyms Cryophytum, Gasoul Cryophytum nodiflorum, Gasoul nodiflorum
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 480. (1753): Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 215. (1754) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 480. (1753)
Source FNA vol. 4, p. 84. Treatment author: Nancy J. Vivrette. FNA vol. 4, p. 85. Treatment author: Nancy J. Vivrette.
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