Carpobrotus Edulis
Make sure that there is ample room for it to grow and spread over walls and boundaries.
Common Name
It is known by different names like Hottentot Fig, Highway Ice Plant, Ice plant and Pigface. Sour Fig.
Description
The physical features of these plants are:
Flowers : It blooms in the months of August, September and October, in shades of yellow and pink. It has a diameter between 100 and 150 mm. The flowers are extremely flamboyant with several stamens that are bordered by stigma appearing like star fish.
Fruits : Edible fruits of almost 35 mm diameter grow on these plants, which attain a yellowish tinge on maturity. These pulpy fruits are fashioned like a gyrating top that grow on thick stalks.
Stems : It has juicy stems that rise upward in a curling manner. It forms a dense cover on the ground.
Leaves : Leaves are also juicy, which closely gathers along the succulent stem. In their younger stage, they are yellowish or greenish but over time they turn reddish.
Distribution
It is prevalent in inland slopes and coastal regions, stretching from Namaqualand till the Eastern Cape. It covers Northern, Eastern and Western Cape in its distributional range.
Plantation
The plant grows well in full sun. It can grow in different kind of soils, if they are well-drained. Being tolerant to drought, it can grow in sandy soils, sand dunes, flat ground, slightly brackish soil as well as rough patch of gardens.
This plant can be propagated via root and stem cuttings during summer or springs. Seeds are easily dispersed by the carriers like animals which germinate fast.
source onlyfoods.net
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