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aptenia

Scientific Name: Aptenia

Family: Aizoaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Aptenia cordifolia: Heartleaf Iceplant and Baby Sun Rose

Aptenia cordifolia, a charming succulent, is known by several common names, including heartleaf iceplant, baby sun rose, and red apple. Its vibrant color and easy-care nature have made it a popular choice for ground cover and hanging baskets.

Considerations for Pets

  • Aptenia cordifolia has succulent leaves and can form mat-like structures, which may be attractive to pets.

Considerations for Children

  • Aptenia cordifolia has small parts like leaves and flowers that children could ingest.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Aptenia cordifolia (L.f.) N.E. Brown
  • Family: Aizoaceae (Iceplant Family)
  • Synonyms: Mesembryanthemum cordifolium Linnaeus f., Litocarpus cordifolius, Tetracoilanthus cordifolius.
  • Taxonomic Note: The plant was first described by Linnaeus the Younger as Mesembryanthemum cordifolium in 1782, and later reclassified into the Aptenia genus by N.E. Brown in 1928.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Aptenia cordifolia is native to the eastern coastal regions of South Africa, including the Cape Province and Kruger National Park.
  • It has naturalized in various regions, including the Isles of Scilly, the Channel Islands, and areas within Australia (Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia) and the Mediterranean area.

Ecological Role

  • In some regions, such as Australia, Aptenia cordifolia is considered an environmental weed due to its ability to escape gardens and spread into the wild.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Aptenia cordifolia is a succulent, creeping, mat-forming perennial.
  • It is typically short-lived and forms solid, flat mats with stems that can reach up to 2 feet long.
  • The leaves are glossy, succulent, dark green, heart-shaped (cordate), and typically about an inch long. They also have papillae.
  • Flowers are bright magenta pink or purplish-red, inch-wide, aster-like, and bloom in spring and summer.
  • Some varieties, like 'Variegata', have cream and green foliage with pink flowers.

Quirky Facts

  • The flowers of Aptenia cordifolia open in the middle of the day.
  • This plant exhibits crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) under saline conditions, a water-conservation strategy common in succulents.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Mentioned as being attractive for use in flowerpots with other plants like Portulaca oleracea, Syngonium podophyllum, Epipremnum aureum or Chlorophytum comosum.

Resources and Further Information

  • USDA PLANTS Database
  • Dave's Garden
  • RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
  • Wikimedia Commons