Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae

Species on page: 2 species in 2 genera depicted (out of around 100 species in 19 genera)

Carpobrotus

Mesembryanthemum

Genus: Carpobrotus
For a long time, I have called all of these Carpobrotus edulis.
However, in looking at pictures of the various Carpobrotus species and reading descriptions of their distinguishing features, I am not at all convinced that I can tell the difference.

Route 1

Iced

Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis)
Native of South Africa
use for highway erosion control in California
Considered a deleterious invasive in California State parks

As the Eskimo say, "don't eat the yellow ice" plant.

Yellow ice plant
May 25, 2014

Bee on ice plant

Carpobrotus edulis
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
May 21, 2011

Bean hollow
Photographing Nature class - November 29, 2014

Dew on flower on ice

Ice plant
November 29, 2014

Baby ice-plant

November 2, 2013

Floral ice

Ice plant (Carpobrotus)
Near the knoll
Stanford
March 27, 2016

Floral ice

Ice plant (Carpobrotus)
Near the knoll
Stanford
March 27, 2016

Floral ice

Ice plant (Carpobrotus)
Near the knoll
Stanford
March 27, 2016

Ice on Garrapata

Ice plant / sea fig (Carpobrotus edulis)
Family: Aizoaceae (stone plants)
Garrapata Beach
November 4, 2022
Canon 7Dmark2

Mesembryanthemum

Crystalline

Crystalline ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum)
Family: Aizoaceae
Torrey Pines
San Diego
March 25, 2019
Canon 7Dmark2

Other relevant links

California Route 1

Last modified: November 8, 2022
Created: January 13, 2013 (from route1.html)
Contact: siegelr@stanford.edu
All pictures are protected by copyright. Do not use without permission.