Crystalline Ice Plant
by Gabriele Pomykaj
Title
Crystalline Ice Plant
Artist
Gabriele Pomykaj
Medium
Photograph
Description
Crystalline Ice Plant.
A stunning, interesting, also useful plant.
Its leaves are edible, as with some other members of the Aizoaceae family. Seeds can also be eaten. The crushed leaves can be used as a soap substitute and has some medicinal uses. It is rarely, if ever, grazed upon by domestic stock.
It is also cultivated for ornamentation.
Due to its salt accumulation, Crystalline Ice Plant may be useful for bioremediation.
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum is a prostrate succulent plant native to Africa, Sinai and southern Europe, and naturalized in North America, South America and Australia.The plant is covered with large, glistening bladder cells or water vesicles, reflected in its common names of common ice plant, crystalline iceplant or ice plant. The bladder cells are enlarged epidermal cells. The main function of these bladder cells is to reserve water. It can be annual, biennial or perennial, but its life cycle is usually completed within several months, depending on environmental conditions.
It grows on cliffs, maritime sands, salt marshes and disturbed grounds.
I captured this beautiful wildflower on one of the Balboa Park/Florida Canyon hike trails, in San Diego, Southern California.
Please note: The watermark will not appear on purchased items.
Photography by Gabriele Pomykaj. All rights reserved
Uploaded
March 12th, 2018
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