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Common ice plant is a succulent, prostrate and
much-branched annual whose stem and leaves are covered with tiny glistening
vesicles. The leaves are alternate, ovate to spatulate, narrowing
to an amplexicaul base or with a short petiole. They are thick,
somewhat wavy-margined and up to 4" long. The solitary flowers
are either on short, thick stems or none, and have five sepals and masses
of white threadlike petals that age to reddish. There are numerous
short stamens. Ice plant is common along the coast and in salt
marshes from Lower to c. California, and is the species that is most
properly called that as opposed to the Hottentot and Sea Figs which
are also referred to incorrectly as ice plant. It supposedly adds
salt to the surrounding soil, thereby discouraging other plants from
germinating nearby. It is a native of South Africa, and blooms
from March to October. These pictures were taken in Upper Newport
Bay. Note the Batis maritima in the third photo.
Click here for name derivations: 1) Mesembryanthemum
2) crystallinum.
Pronunciation: mes-em-bree-AN-the-mum kri-stal-EE-num.
Click here for Botanical
Term Meanings.
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