Carpobrotus

Carpobrotus edulis subsp. edulis

Carpobrotus is a plant genus of the family of Mesembryanthemum plants ( Aizoaceae ). The botanical name is derived from the Greek words for karpos, fruit ' and sp for, edible ' her.

Description

Carpobrotus are succulent, bald dwarf shrubs that Stems are creeping, 50 to 300 inches long and form mats. The fibrous roots arise from the node. The seated on the stem leaves are opposite and arranged weakly fused at the base with one another, fleshy, straight or curved and round in cross section triangular or sharp triangular. They are entire or serrated edge. Stipules absent.

The achselbürtigen or terminal inflorescences are upright and branched, the flowers are individually. Leaf -like bracts are found either two-or they are missing. The flower stems can either missing or they are 10 to 60 (rarely 1 to 100 ) mm long and erect.

The showy flowers are tubular and have a diameter of 3 to 10 (15) cm. The four to five calyx lobes are of unequal size, the two outer opposite each enlarged, occasionally leaf-like, two or three inner are smaller, they are wide margins membranous. Including the kronblattartigen staminodes are found up to 250 petals, they are pink, yellow, white or cream. Nectaries absent.

The up to 600 stamens stand erect, the stamps have eight to twelve ( 25) carpels, the ovary is inferior and eight to zwölffächrig (25). A stylus is missing, the scars are radiating, linear and feathered.

The fruits are fleshy, edible berries that are up to 1000 seeds glossy brown, obovate and compressed, an aril is missing.