Mesembryanthemum equilateratum

• Interesting Facts
• Description
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Interesting Facts

Description

Genus Mesembryanthemum

Herbs, annual or perennial , usually short-lived, succulent, usually conspicuously papillate , glabrous . Roots fibrous . Stems prostrate to ascending . Leaves basal and cauline, alternate or opposite, sessile or petiolate ; stipules absent; blade reddish with age, flat or terete , margins often undulate . Inflorescences terminal or axillary , flowers solitary or in cymes; bracts absent or 1-2, sessile or pedicellate . Flowers showy, 4-10[-20] mm diam., tubular ; calyx lobes (4-) 5, 2 often leaflike; petals (including petaloid staminodia) 20-40[-150], distinct or connate into short tube , free , white, pink, or yellowish, linear ; nectary glands 5; stamens 30[-120]; pistil (4-) 5-carpellate; ovary half-inferior, (4-) 5-loculed, convex ; placentation axile ; stigmas (4-) 5, erect , filiform . Fruits capsules, persistent , valves (4-) 5, with expanding interior keels when moistened, forming capsule lids when dried, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds 100-200, black or dark [light] reddish brown [ochre or whitish], compressed [globose ], often with 1 straight edge , 1 mm, smooth to rough with minute tubercles ; arils absent.

Species 74: introduced ; s, w Africa; also introduced in Mexico, South America, Europe (Mediterranean), Asia, Atlantic Islands, Australia.

As described here, Mesembryanthemum is the narrowly delineated genus sensu H. M. L. Bolus (1928-1958, part 3, p. 164, fig. 25) .

The ability of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum and M. nodiflorum to accumulate and release salt into the surrounding soil is one mechanism by which these species dominate disturbed areas (N. J. Vivrette and C. H. Muller 1977; N. J. Vivrette 1980) .[1]

Taxonomy

Notes

Publishing author : Haw. Publication : Observ. Mesembryanthemum 2: 390 1795

Similar Species

Members of the genus Mesembryanthemum

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 4 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

M. crassifolium (Dewplant) · M. crystallinum (Common Iceplant) · M. nodiflorum (Slender-Leaf Iceplant) · M. pugioniforme (Narrow-Leaved Iceplant)

More Info

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Further Reading

Notes

Contributors

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2007. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed March 28, 2007.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 11, 2012.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed December 29, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
• Rhytismatales database 2006.
• The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Dec 27, 2011.
• USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 10490667
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:362852-1
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 362852-1
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 1127940

Footnotes

1. Nancy J. Vivrette "Mesembryanthemum". in Flora of North America Vol. 4 Page 76, 77, 84. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.