sour fig

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hottentot-Fig
• Kaffir Fig
• Common Sourfig
• Edible Sourfig
• Hottentot Fig
• Wild Fig
• Yellow Sourfig
• ice plant
• pigface
• sea fig
• sour fig

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Abryanthemum edule
• Carpobrotus edulis subsp. edulis
• Mesembryanthemum edule
• Carpobrotus edulis var. chrysophthalmus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Caryophyllales and the family Aizoaceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Carpobrotus, identifying the species as Carpobrotus edulis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented within Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the Mediterranean, it can be found in various parts of Southwestern Europe. Specifically, its range includes the islands of Baleares and Corse. Finally, the species is also distributed throughout France.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Carpobrotus edulis is characterized by its adaptation to specific coastal and montane environments, primarily occupying Restinga habitats. This plant thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1100 m AMSL. Its presence in Restinga ecosystems highlights its ability to endure the unique environmental pressures associated with these sandy, coastal restinga formations, while its broad elevational range demonstrates a remarkable capacity to colonize diverse topographical zones.

Elevational range max:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Restinga

Life history

The life history of Carpobrotus edulis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. It adopts a chamaephyte life form, specifically categorized as a chamaephete, which enables it to maintain its structure close to the ground. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and photosynthetic throughout the year without the need for seasonal shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Carpobrotus edulis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically behaving as a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor epiphytic. The plant exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation, spreading across the substrate. Its physical stature is relatively low, with plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.15 m

Plant height min:

0.06 m

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Carpobrotus edulis is characterized by a specialized metabolic and morphological framework adapted for moisture retention and efficient resource utilization. It utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate carbon fixation. The plant exhibits significant succulence, a key physiological adaptation that allows for the storage of water within its tissues to survive arid conditions. Morphologically, the leaves are oblong in form, displaying a varied size range with a minimum length of 4 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 13 cm. The leaf width is similarly variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a mean of 1.5 cm, with a maximum width of 1.7 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external nutrient availability within its environment.

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

1.7 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Carpobrotus edulis involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with the sexual process characterized by bisexual flowers. The flowering period typically begins in March and concludes in June, though the timing can be variable. The flowers are pink in color and possess significant dimensions, ranging in length from 2 cm to 4.5 cm and in width from 8 cm to 10 cm. This species utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate fertilization; notably, self-fertilization is absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Once fertilized, the plant produces prolific quantities of seeds, often exceeding 1,000 seeds per fruit. These seeds are relatively small, with a consistent mean length of 1.15 mm and a mean mass of 3e-04 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically endozoochorous, meaning they are dispersed via the internal passage through animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

4.5 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Flower width max:

10 cm

Flower width min:

8 cm

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Jun

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1.15 mm

Seed mass mean:

3e-04 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Carpobrotus edulis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Carpobrotus edulis has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Avicularin, Fatty acids, Monoterpenes, resveratrol.

Avicularin

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Fatty acids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Monoterpenes

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

resveratrol

1. Inflammopharmacology

Conditions

Carpobrotus edulis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant, inflammation.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology