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seaside delosperma
Scientific Name: Delosperma litorale
Family: Aizoaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Subshrub, Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Delosperma litorale: Seaside Delosperma
Delosperma litorale, commonly known as seaside delosperma or white trailing iceplant, is a succulent subshrub belonging to the genus Delosperma.
Considerations for Pets
- As a succulent, Delosperma litorale has the ability to store water in its tissues. Some pets, especially dogs, might be tempted to chew on the plant, potentially leading to digestive upset.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Synonyms: The text mentions various related Delosperma species, including possible synonyms, such as those listed in the International Plant Names Index.
- Authority: (Kensit) L. Bolus
- Family: Aizoaceae (Ice Plant Family)
Distribution and Habitat
- Delosperma litorale is native to South Africa.
- Specifically, it can be found close to the sea in the Western Cape and the western part of the Eastern Cape regions of South Africa.
- It is described as thriving in seaside landscapes and tolerating seaside conditions.
- It can also be found naturalized in areas like California.
- It can grow from volcanic seaside rocks.
Ecological Role
- While valued for erosion control, some related ice plant species like Hottentot fig ice plant have invasive potential.
Morphological Characteristics
- It is described as a subshrub forb/herb.
- It is a perennial plant.
- It is a stem succulent, described as a shrub (stem succulent).
- It is also described as groundcover.
- The foliage is linear.
- Branches ascend from a woody base.
Quirky Facts
- One person who tried eating a fruit from an ice plant described it as "disgusting" and "slimy."
- Delosperma litorale can survive in temperatures down to -10C, but needs protection from winter wet.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The white-flowered ice plant is mentioned as a valuable late source of nectar for butterflies and bees.
- It is a food source for sheep, as indicated by the Afrikaans name "skaapvygie" (sheep mesemb).
Further Information
- Discover Life has a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Delosperma litorale.
- The GBIF Backbone tab provides a view of Delosperma litorale on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
- Profile information can be found on USDA PLANTS.
- More information can be found through the British Database of World Flora