Taxon:  Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N. E. Br.



Summary
Genus:
Carpobrotus
Family:
Aizoaceae
Subfamily:
Ruschioideae
Tribe:
Ruschieae
Nomen number:
101172
Place of publication:
E. P. Phillips, Gen. S. Afr. fl. pl. 249.  1926 (H. M. L. Bolus, Fl. Pl. South Africa 7: sub t. 247.  1927)
Verified:
11/16/2010 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
1 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N. E. Br. subsp. edulis (0 active accession[s])
Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N. E. Br. subsp. parviflorus Wisura & Glen (0 active accession[s])
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Mesembryanthemum edule L.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N. E. Br. var. rubescens Druce

No images


Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. Ali, S. I. & S. M. H. Jafri, eds. 1976-. Flora of Libya.
  4. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  5. Arnold, T. H. & B. C. De Wet, eds. 1993. Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa no. 62 Note: lists as Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bolus
  6. Castroviejo, S. et al., eds. 1989-. Flora iberica: plantas vasculares de la Peninsula Iberica e Islas Baleares.
  7. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  8. Eggli, U. 1994. Sukkulenten Eugen Ulmer GmbH & Company.
  9. Encke, F. 1958-1961. Pareys Blumengaertnerei, ed. 2.
  10. Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
  11. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 2:1280.
  12. FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
  13. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  14. Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa. Note: lists as Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bolus
  15. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  16. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  17. Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
  18. Hartmann, H. E. K., ed. 2001. Illustrated handbook of succulent plants: Aizoaceae A-E & Aizoaceae F-Z A-E:99.
  19. Hartmann, H. E. K. 2011. Review of Aizoaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 8 Mar.
  20. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: higher plants of California
  21. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  22. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
  23. Jacobsen, H. J. 1981. Das Sukkulentenlexicon, ed. 2
  24. Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
  25. Kunkel, G. 1984. Plants for human consumption
  26. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  27. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada Note: lists as Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bolus
  28. Merxmüller, H., ed. 1966-1972. Prodromus einer flora von Sudwestafrika.
  29. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  30. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  31. Strid, A. & K. Tan, eds. 1997-. Flora hellenica.
  32. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  33. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1993. Flora europaea, ed. 2.
  34. Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
  35. Wunderlin, R. & B. Hansen. Atlas of Florida vascular plants (on-line resource).
  36. Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
EnglishHottentot-fig  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Afrikaanspaardefeige  2Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Afrikaanszuurefeige  2Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Frenchfigue marine  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanHottentottenfeige  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanPferdefeige  2Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Italianfico degli Ottentotti  2Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Portuguesebálsamo  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishhigo del Cabo  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishhigo marino  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishgul middagsblomma  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaEastern Cape Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa. Note: lists as Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bolus
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaNorthern Cape Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa. Note: lists as Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bolus
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaWestern Cape Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa. Note: lists as Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bolus
2Cultivated    also cult.Strid, A. & K. Tan, eds. 1997-. Flora hellenica.
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaCabo Verde  Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalAzores Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalMadeira Islands Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaSpainCanarias Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
4NaturalizedAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaAustraliaAustralia s. & e.George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaNew ZealandNew Zealand  FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeIreland  Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom  Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeAlbania  Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly  Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance  Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaNorthern MexicoMexicoBaja FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaSoutheastern U.S.A.United StatesFlorida Wunderlin, R. & B. Hansen. Atlas of Florida vascular plants (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaSouthwestern U.S.A.United StatesCalifornia FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaArgentinaBuenos Aires Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaChile  Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaUruguay  Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
6Other    in winter rainfall regionsHartmann, H. E. K. 2011. Review of Aizoaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 8 Mar.
Native
Africa
  • SOUTHERN AFRICA: South Africa [Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape]
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Cabo Verde, Spain [Canarias], Portugal [Azores, Madeira Islands]
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia (s. & e.)
  • NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: United Kingdom, Ireland
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Italy
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France, Portugal
Northern America
  • SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida]
  • SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [California]
  • NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Baja]
Southern America
  • SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina [Buenos Aires], Chile, Uruguay
Other (in winter rainfall regions)

Reference(s)
  1. FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
  2. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  3. Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa. Note: lists as Carpobrotus edulis (L.) L. Bolus
  4. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  5. Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
  6. Hartmann, H. E. K. 2011. Review of Aizoaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 8 Mar.
  7. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
  8. Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
  9. Strid, A. & K. Tan, eds. 1997-. Flora hellenica.
  10. Wunderlin, R. & B. Hansen. Atlas of Florida vascular plants (on-line resource).
  11. Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996, 1999. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalerosion control Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Environmentalornamental Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Human foodfruit Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Medicinesfolklore Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Weed  Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
Weed  Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=101172. Accessed 15 April 2026.