iNat·49321GenusPlantae57,928 field observationsThe Nature Library · Open stacks

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ice plants

Mesembryanthemum

Mesembryanthemum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa. As with many members of that family, it is characterized by long-lasting flower heads. Flowers of Mesembryanthemum protect close at night-time but open in sunlight. Where sun, dew, frost, wind or predators are likely to damage exposed reproductive organs, closing may be advantageous during times when flowers are unlikely to attract pollinators.

Many Mesembryanthemum species are known as ice plants because of the glistening globular bladder cells covering their stems, fruit and leaves, "... they sparkle like ice crystals". In South Africa, Mesembryanthemums are known as "vygies" (from Afrikaans "vy"), although that term refers to many plants in the family Aizoaceae.

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5 branches of this genus, most-observed first

Phyllobolus

subgenusPhyllobolus

Icefigs

subgenusCryophytum

Mesembryanthemum

subgenusMesembryanthemum

Solfigs

subgenusVolkeranthus

Icefigs

subgenusOpophytum

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Where it lives

Recorded sightings

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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.

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