Small Ice Plant

Status:

Native to South Africa.

Plant Description:

Densely warted, succulent annual or biennial forb, with rather slender prostrate stems. Leaves opposite at the base of stems, spreading and half-clasping stems, narrow to 2 mm wide and 8-15 mm long, somewhat round in cross-section but flattened above.

Flowers stalkless in the leaf axils or at the ends of the branches, with numerous white petals 4 –5 mm long. Fruit is a small five-celled capsule. Flowering spring – early summer.

Habitat:

Occasional on saline flats and depressions in north-west Victoria. Also found in WA, SA and NSW.

Comments:

Prefers years with high winter and spring rains. Not often grazed by livestock. Similar to Common Ice Plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) but has cylindrical and often soon dessicated leaves. Often growing in association with Rounded Noon-flower (Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum) (see Key to Pigfaces and similar plants).