Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

Botanical Description

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is a prostrate, annual to perennial plant, though it most commonly completes its life-cycle within a few months. It has succulent leaves and stems, growing about 10cm tall with stems 50cm or more long trailing along the ground[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. The plant is sometimes harvested for local use as a food, medicine and source of soap. It can be used in soil-desalinization projects and is a very ornamental plant that is often grown in the flower garden and is sometimes also cultivated for its edible leaves[ 1 Title RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Publication Author F. Chittendon. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1951 ISBN - Description Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]). , 264 Title Vegetables Publication Author Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Publisher Macmillan Reference Books, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0 333 62640 0 Description Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species. ]. Mesembryanthemum crystallinum has spread from its original native habitats near the coasts of western Asia, northern and southern Afrca, both through cultivation as an ornamental, and as a weed (with seed being carried in ships' ballasts). It has become established in several other regions of the world, including California, southern Europe and Australia. It is able to out-compete native species by its habit of concentrating salt in its leaves and then secreting this onto the ground, making surface conditions too saline for native plants to germinate[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].