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Ice Plant
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Aizoaceae Genus: Carpobrotus Species: C. edulis
Binomial name
Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E. Br

The common name Ice Plant refers to Carpobrotus edulis, a creeping, mat-forming succulent species, and member of the Stone Plant family Aizoaceae, one of about 30 species in the genus Carpobrotus. It is also known as the Highway Ice Plant, Pigface or Hottentot Fig and in South Africa as the Sour Fig, on account of its edible fruit. It was previously classified in genus Mesembryanthemum and is sometimes referred to by this name. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 544 KB) Name Carpobrotus edulis Familiy Aizoaceae Taken by Carsten Niehaus. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class of flowering plants. ... Families See text. ... Genera See text. ... Species C. edulis and others There is about 30 species in this genus, having a disperse distibution worldwide. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Nicholas Edward Brown (July 11, 1849 Redhill, Surrey - November 25, 1934 Kew Gardens, London) was an English plant taxonomist and authority on succulents, Asclepiadaceae, Mesembryanthemaceae, Labiatae and Cape plants. ... Succulent plants, or succulents, are plants that store water in their enlarged fleshy leaves, stems, or roots. ... Genera See text. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Species See text. ...

Carpobrotus edulis is easily confused with its close relative, the more diminutive and less aggressive Carpobrotus chilensis (sea fig), and the two species hybridize readily throughout their ranges in California. The large 2.5 to 6 inch diameter flowers of C. edulis are yellow or light pink, whereas the smaller, 1.5 to 2.5 inch diameter C. chilensis flowers are deep magenta. Large cells in the leaves sparkle like granules of ice in the sun, giving the plant its common name. The common name "Ice Plant" is sometimes also used for other related plant species, including Delosperma cooperi and Lampranthus, which also belong to the plant family Aizoaceae and share in common a South African origin. The name is, unfortunately, used for plants in other families, as well, including Sedum spectabile (Crassulaceae). Binomial name Delosperma cooperi (Hook. ... Lampranthus is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae. ... Genera many, see text The Crassulaceae, or orpine family, is a family of dicotyledons. ...

Movement to the U.S.

The Ice Plant is a native of South Africa. In the early 1900s C. edulis was brought to California from South Africa to stabilize soil along railroad tracks and was later put to use by Caltrans for similar purposes. Thousands of acres were planted in California until the 1970s. It easily spreads by seed (hundreds per fruit) and from segmentation (any shoot segment can produce roots). Its succulent foliage, bright magenta or yellow flowers, and resistance to some harsh coastal climatic conditions (salt) have also made it a favoured garden plant. The Ice Plant was for several decades widely promoted as an ornamental plant, and it is still available at some nurseries. Ice Plant foliage can turn a vibrant red to yellow in color. Caltrans logo The soaring ramps in the stack interchanges favored by Caltrans often provide stunning views. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Flower (disambiguation). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Invasiveness

In several parts of the world, notably Australia, California and the Mediterranean, all of which share a similar Mediterranean climate, the Ice Plant has escaped from cultivation and has become an invasive species. The Ice Plant poses a serious ecological problem, forming vast monospecific zones, lowering biodiversity, and competing directly with several threatened or endangered plant species for nutrients, water, light, and space (State Resources Agency 1990). Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ... Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. ...

The Ice Plant forms large monospecific zones

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 698 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 698 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ...

Growth

Ice Plants grow year round, with individual shoot segments growing more than three feet (1 m) per year (D’Antonio 1990b). Ice Plants can grow to at least 165 feet (50 m) in diameter. Flowering occurs almost year round, beginning in February in southern California and continuing through fall in northern California, with flowers present for at least a few months in any given population. Seed production is high, with hundreds of seeds produced in each fruit. The fruit is edible. In South Africa the Sour Fig's ripe fruit are gathered and either eaten fresh or made into a very tart jam.

Removal of Plant

Control of Ice Plants can be attempted by pulling out individual plants by hand, or with the use of earth-moving machinery such as a skid-steer or tractor, though it is necessary to remove buried stems, and mulch the soil to prevent re-establishment. For chemical control, glyphosate herbicides are used. Because of the high water content of shoot tissues, burning of live or dead plants is not a useful method of control or disposal. A skid loader, also called a skid steer, is a compact, low capacity machine used for pushing or lifting material and for digging. ... Loess field in Germany Surface-water-gley developed in glacial till, Northern Ireland Soil is a complex mixture of materials, principally ground up rock and water. ... It has been suggested that Roundup be merged into this article or section. ... An herbicide is used to kill unwanted plants. ...

Location

The Ice Plant is still abundant along highways, beaches, on military bases, and in other public and private landscapes. It spreads beyond landscape plantings and has invaded foredune, dune scrub, coastal bluff scrub, coastal prairie, and most recently maritime chaparral communities. In California, the Ice Plant is found in coastal habitats from north of Eureka, California, south at least as far as Rosarito in Baja California. It is intolerant of frost, and is not found far inland or at elevations greater than approximately 500 feet (150 m). Chaparral is a shrubland plant community found primarily in California, USA, that is shaped by a Mediterranean climate (mild, wet winters and hot dry summers) and wildfire. ... Location within Mexico Municipalities of Baja California Country Capital Municipalities 5 Largest City Tijuana Government  - Governor José Guadalupe Osuna Millán (PAN)  - Federal Deputies PAN: 8  - Federal Senators Alejandro González (PAN) Rafael Díaz (PAN) Fernando Castro (PRI) Area Ranked 12th  - Total 69,921 km² (26,996. ...

Close-up of the ice plant blossom. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,504 × 2,336 pixels, file size: 2. ...

White blossomed ice plants. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,504 × 2,336 pixels, file size: 2. ...

White flower with red-tinted leaves. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,504 × 2,336 pixels, file size: 2. ...

Pink blossomed Carpobrotus edulis Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 554 pixelsFull resolution‎ (3,264 × 2,261 pixels, file size: 5. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Carpobrotus edulis

• http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/datastore/detailreport.cfm?usernumber=25&surveynumber=182
• Carpobrotus edulis at PlantFiles
• http://www.hear.org/pier/species/carpobrotus_edulis.htm