Carpobrotus rossii

Karkalla ( Carpobrotus rossii )

The Karkalla ( Carpobrotus rossii ) is a species of the genus Carpobrotus within the family of Mesembryanthemum plants ( Aizoaceae ). It can be found in South Australia as a groundcover in coastal, especially in Victoria and Tasmania.

Description

The Karkallapflanze is a succulent plant. The stems reached a length of 1 meter or more and has a diameter 3-11 mm. The leaves are 3.5 to 10 cm in length and 1 cm width often a little thicker than it is wide.

The flower stalk is 5-28 mm long. The flowers have a diameter of 3.5 to 5.5 cm. The bloom is up to 2.5 cm long. The usually 60 to 160 staminodes are light purple and white at their base. There are 100 available and 250 fertile stamens. The ovary is top-shaped to oblong - top-shaped. There are six to ten pen available.

The purple to red fruit, with a length of about 1.6 to 2.2 cm in the front view and top-shaped in side view, globose - ellipsoid. The seeds are 1.1 to 1.4 mm long.

Use

Aboriginal people traditionally eat the fruit fresh and dried. The salty leaves are eaten with meat.

Swell

• Elliot, WR, Jones, DL, Enclyclopaedia of Australian Plants, Vol 2, 1982 ISBN 0-85091-143-5
• " Carpobrotus rossii ( Haw. ) Schwantes " in Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet Herbarium of South Australia, accessed on 13 July 2009