Carpobrotus acinaciformis (L.) L. Bolus

Spice Detail Flowers In the field

Family: AIZOACEAE

Genus: Carpobrotus

Catalan common name: Bàlsam. Patata frita.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Rocky coastlines. Garden plants. Gardens and naturalizated in dunes and coastal areas.

Characteristics: This plant is well branched out at the base, and these branches stretch out along the ground and are succulent and sickle ?shaped although the cross section is triangular (isosceles triangle). The flowers are large, some 12 cm, with a multitude of purple petals and yellow stamens in the centre. The leaf shape provides a distinctive key to separate it from Carpobrotus edulis, as the latter has more elongated leaves with an equilateral triangular cross section. This plant was introduced from South Africa as a garden plant; it has become established in many coastal locations, in sandy as well as rocky substrates.