Carpobrotus dimidiatus (L.) L. Bolus

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (2)

Photo: Ton Rulkens
Close to Xai-xai.

Records: Display species records Map species using Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Carpobrotus juritzii (L. Bolus) L. Bolus Mesembryanthemum dimidiatum Haw. Mesembryanthemum juritzii L. Bolus
Common names:	Natal Sour Fig. (English)
Description:	Robust, Succulent trailing herb, often covering large areas. Leaves fleshy, green, three-sided. Flowers solitary on more or less erect flowering branches, large and showy; perianth segments green and inconspicuous, sharply 2-ridged; staminodes numerous, linear, shiny bright mauve. Fruit fleshy but becoming dry and not splitting.
Notes:	The pulp in the fruit is sour but edible and used to make jam. Many parts of the plant are also used in traditional medicine. The species is widely planted as an ornamental lor soil stabilizer but also clearly occurs as a wild plant in Southern Mozambique. It is uncertain whether the species is truly indigenous here or introduced and naturalized. It is not mentioned as either in Flora Zambesiaca Volume 4 (1978).
Derivation of specific name:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Southern Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Growth form(s):
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Image last updated:	Friday 14 October 2016
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 88. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 27.

Other sources of information about Carpobrotus dimidiatus:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Carpobrotus dimidiatus
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Carpobrotus dimidiatus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Carpobrotus dimidiatus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Carpobrotus dimidiatus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Carpobrotus dimidiatus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Carpobrotus dimidiatus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Carpobrotus dimidiatus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Carpobrotus dimidiatus
JSTOR Plant Science: Carpobrotus dimidiatus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Carpobrotus dimidiatus
Plants of the World Online: Carpobrotus dimidiatus
Tropicos: Carpobrotus dimidiatus
Wikipedia: Carpobrotus dimidiatus