Aizoaceae FAMILY

Carpobrotus edulis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Carpobrotus edulis is a low-growing, evergreen, succulent perennial plant producing branching stems that can be up to 3 metres long. The plant forms a dense carpet of growth about 20cm tall that completely covers the soil[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for its medicinal uses and edible fruit, whilst it is also cultivated both as an ornamental and for its ability to stabilize sandy soils. Carpobrotus edulis is widely grown as an ornamental and ground cover plant. However, it has often escaped from cultivation, especially near the coast, and can readily and rapidly spread to form deep, dense mats which smother other low-growing native vegetation. The plant can also causes changes to soil pH. It has become a weed in many areas of the world including southern Europe and the Mediterranean, Australia, New Zealand, westerm N. America

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeS. Africa - Cape Province. Naturalized in Britain[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ]

HabitatSandy and rocky places by the sea[ 260 Title Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Publication Author Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Publisher Pan Books, London. Year 1998 ISBN 0-330-37376-5 Description Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside. ]. Naturalized on cliffs and banks by the sea in Cornwall and S. Devon[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ].