Malephora crocea is a species of succulent perennial flowering plant in the ice plant family known by the common names 'coppery mesemb' and 'red ice plant'. It is native to Southern Africa but is grown in many other regions of the world, primarily as an ornamental plant, but also as a fireproof groundcover. In parts of Southern California,[1] and south along the coast of Mexico's Baja California state, M. crocea is an introduced species, where it was originally planted as highway landscaping in areas of low rainfall. However, due to the environmental similarities with its native African habitats, the species becomes comfortably well-established and often reseeds prolifically, even becoming a noxious weed in coastal Pacific habitats, including on sandy beaches and areas with seemingly no viable soil. It is also planted along highways in Arizona, and is valued in xeriscaping for its low water needs, its love of direct sun, and its reliable blooming. The flowers are quite popular with pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and some hummingbirds.[2] The succulent, water-engorged leaves are also sometimes eaten by birds and other animals in times of drought, resulting in a ragged, torn-looking plant. It has been recommended as a groundcover in areas prone to wildfire in southern California due to its low flammability.[3]
| Malephora crocea | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Genus: | Malephora |
| Species: | M. crocea
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| Binomial name | |
| Malephora crocea | |
| Synonyms | |
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Mesembryanthemum croceum | |
M. crocea is a succulent, but also an herbaceous perennial groundcover, with a creeping, corky to woody stem which takes-root wherever root nodes come into contact with suitable terrain. The water-filled foliage is triangular in cross-section, a few centimeters long, pale green to reddish in color, and somewhat waxy in texture. The flower is borne on a short stalk. It has many narrow petals in shades of red, orange, and yellow, sometimes with purplish undersides. The fruit is a valved capsule containing many lens-shaped seeds.
References
editExternal links
edit- Jepson Manual Treatment
- USDA Plants Profile
- Photo gallery
Media related to Malephora crocea at Wikimedia Commons
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