Mesembryanthemum tortuosum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mesembryanthemum tortuosum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Aizoaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Mesembryanthemum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the diverse landscapes of Southern Africa. Its specific range is concentrated throughout the Cape Provinces. This region provides the unique environmental conditions necessary for its natural growth. Consequently, its geographical presence is quite localized to these coastal and inland areas. Understanding this distribution helps researchers locate the species in its native habitat.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mesembryanthemum expansum is characterized by its specific adaptation to montane environments, where it occupies a distinct altitudinal niche. This species is primarily found within an elevational range spanning from a minimum of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 950 m AMSL. Within this specific vertical distribution, the plant thrives in habitats that provide the necessary environmental gradients typical of these mid-elevation zones, influencing its growth patterns and distribution density.

Elevational range max:

950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Mesembryanthemum expansum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it follows a life cycle that focuses on establishing a robust presence within its habitat, often utilizing its succulent structures to survive periods of environmental stress. Unlike annuals that complete their cycle in a single season or biennials that require two years to reach reproductive maturity, this perennial plant maintains its physiological functions over an extended duration, repeatedly undergoing cycles of vegetative growth and flowering to ensure long-term survival and successful propagation.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mesembryanthemum expansum is characterized by its low-growing, spreading habit, reaching a maximum plant height of 0.2 m. It functions as a self-supporting plant, lacking the structural requirements of an obligatory or facultative climber, and it grows as an independent organism without any parasitic behavior. While it can inhabit various moisture environments, its primary growth form is terrestrial rather than aquatic or semiaquatic. Additionally, it is strictly a terrestrial species and does not exhibit any epiphytic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.2 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Mesembryanthemum expansum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Mesembrine, Mesembranol, Mesembrenol, Mesembrenone.

Mesembrine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceutics

Mesembranol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mesembrenol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mesembrenone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Mesembryanthemum expansum has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anxiolytic, Neuroprotective, Psychoactive.

Anxiolytic

1. Current neuropharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Psychoactive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology