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ice plant
ice plant Ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum).

ice plant

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History

ice plant, any of several species of low-growing succulent plants of the carpetweed family (Aizoaceae). They include members of the genera Mesembryanthemum, Carpobrotus, Conicosia, Delosperma, and the monotypic Disphyma. Most ice plants are native to arid regions of southern Africa, and some are cultivated as ornamental ground covers.

ice plant
ice plantIce Plant (Carpobrotus edulis).

Highway ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis, formerly Mesembryanthemum edule) is one of the most commonly grown species and is named for the transparent glistening swellings on its edible leaves. It is cultivated in gardens and as an indoor potted plant. It is naturalized in California, where it clothes road embankments and provides erosion control.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.