Back Mesembryanthemum Afrikaans سبيب (نبات) Arabic سبيب ARZ Mesembryanthemum Catalan Mesembryanthemum CEB Mesembryanthemum German Mesembryanthemum Spanish گل نیمروز (سرده) Persian Jääpäivikit Finnish Mesembryanthemum French
| Mesembryanthemum | |
|---|---|
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| Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Subfamily: | Mesembryanthemoideae |
| Genus: | Mesembryanthemum L. |
| Species | |
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See text for accepted species | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Mesembryanthemum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa. As with many members of that family, it is characterized by long-lasting flower heads. Flowers of Mesembryanthemum protect their gametes from night-time dews or frosts but open in sunlight.[citation needed] There is an obvious evolutionary advantage to doing this; where sun, dew, frost, wind or predators are likely to damage exposed reproductive organs, closing may be advantageous during times when flowers are unlikely to attract pollinators.[citation needed]
Many Mesembryanthemum species are known as ice plants because of the glistening globular bladder cells covering their stems, fruit and leaves,[2] "... they sparkle like ice crystals".[3] In South Africa, Mesembryanthemums are known as "vygies" (from Afrikaans "vy"), although that term refers to many plants in the family Aizoaceae.
Species formerly placed in Mesembryanthemum have been transferred to other genera, such as Cleretum and Carpobrotus, although sources differ.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
POWO_331766-2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Browsing: Aizoaceae". World of Succulents. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ Smith, Curtis. "Ice plant". Southwest Yard & Garden. New Mexico State University. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
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