Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum

L. Small Ice-plant
Sp. Pl.: 480 (1753)
Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present
Origin Introduced
Degree of establishment Naturalised

Prostrate to weakly erect annual, 2–30 cm diam.; stems, leaves and calyx often tinged pink, covered by glistening, bead-like papillae. Leaves opposite at base, linear, semi-terete, flattened on adaxial face, 1–2 cm long, 1–2 mm diam. Flowers axillary, sessile or subsessile; ovary inferior; receptacle obconic, 3–6 mm long; sepals unequal, linear, subterete, 2–6 mm long, each with a prominent fleshy tubercle at the base; staminodes white, yellowish or pink, shortly exceeding sepals. Capsule obconic to narrowly ovoid, 5–8 mm long, sepals remaining ± erect; seeds reddish, D-shaped, c. 1 mm long, tuberculate. Flowers Sep.–Jan.

LoM, MuM, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, Gold. Also WA, SA, NSW. Native to South Africa. Common to abundant on saline flats and depressions in the north-west, often associated with samphire communities.

Source:

Walsh, N.G. (1996). Aizoaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., ‍Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae‍, pp. 105–119. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Updated by: Val Stajsic, 10 Jul. 2020
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum (hero image) Spinning
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum (distribution map) Spinning