Subshrubs, succulent, glabrous. Roots fibrous. Stems trailing, mat-forming, 5–30 dm; rooting at nodes; inflorescence branches ascending. Leaves cauline, opposite, slightly connate basally, sessile, those of each pair equal; stipules absent; blade straight or curved, rounded-triangular to sharply 3-angled in cross section, thick, fleshy, margins entire or dentate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, flowers solitary; bracts absent or 2, leaflike; pedicel [absent or 1–]10–60[–100] mm, erect. Flowers showy, tubular, 3–10[–15] cm diam.; calyx lobes 4–5, unequal, 2 larger ± opposite, sometimes leaflike, 2–3 inner, smaller, with expanded membranous margins; petals (including petaloid staminodia) to 250, distinct, magenta, pink, yellow, cream, or white; nectary absent; stamens to 600, erect; pistil 8–12[–25]-carpellate; ovary inferior, 8–12[–25]-loculed; placentation parietal; style absent; stigmas 8–12[–25], radiate, linear, plumose. Fruits berries, fleshy, edible, indehiscent; valves absent. Seeds to 1000, brown, obovoid, compressed, shiny, slightly tuberculate; arils absent.

Distribution

Introduced; s Africa, also introduced in Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia.

Discussion

Species 13 (2 in the flora).

Species of Carpobrotus naturalize vegetatively and from seed.

Selected References

Blake, S. T. 1969. A revision of Carpobrotus and Sarcozona in Australia, genera allied to Mesembryanthemum (Aizoaceae). Contr. Queensland Herb. 7: 1–65.

Brown, N. E. 1928. Mesembryanthemum and allied genera. J. Bot. 66: 322–327.

Wisura, W. and H. F. Glen. 1993. The South African species of Carpobrotus (Mesembryanthema–Aizoaceae). Contr. Bolus Herb. 15: 76–107.

Lower Taxa

Carpobrotus chilensis, Carpobrotus edulis

Key

1	Flowers 3-5 cm diam.; petals rose-magenta; leaves 4-7 cm, rounded-triangular in cross section, outer angle smooth	Carpobrotus chilensis
1	Flowers 8-10 cm diam.; petals yellow, aging pink; leaves 6-10 cm, sharply triangular in cross section, outer angle serrate near tip	Carpobrotus edulis