Ice Plant

The botanical name is Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. Originating from South Africa, this flowering plant belongs to the family Aizoaceae. It can be also commonly known as Crystal Ice Plant. Its genus name, Mesembryanthemum, was taken from ‘mesembria’ that means ’mid-day’, due to the fact the blooms opened just in the sun.

Leter the night-flowering species were found out and its spelling was altered so that the name pointed a flower with its fruit in the middle (‘mesos’ stands for ‘middle’ and ‘bryon for ‘fruit’). Crystallinumrelates relates to numerous ice-resembling bubbles on the Ice plant. The common name is said to have taken as it is said that even in the hottest weather, the leaves are coo. Beside of when you cut open the leaves of the Ice plant, the flesh is glossy and clear like ice.

In American seed lists of 1881 Ice plant was recognized as a preferable vegetable for cooking like spinach or for a garnish. Its foliage can serves as a substitute for preparing pickles, and added fresh to salad.

Ice Plant

By Yummifruitbat - under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License.

Iceplant

By Winfried Bruenken (Amrum) - under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License.