Mesembryanthemum (Phyllobolus) canaliculatum

These plants are geophytes with tuberous roots; they occur from the Cape Peninsula eastward to Port Elizabeth, growing in coastal dunes.
As a special adaptations to their sandy habitat, they have long creeping branches rooting at the nodes.
The Aizoaceae family does not have not many members that are either geophytic or adapted to a habitat of shifting sands, but this species somehow manages to belong to both categories.
One can find the plants in flower from spring to mid-summer. The flowers are 2-3 cm in diameter and yellow, mauve or salmon in colour, sometimes with a red hue.
The leaves are almost cylindrical or channeled (=canaliculatus).

Photographed near Jeffrey’s Bay 25 Oct. 2012.

phylcana 8060#2012-10-25

phylcana 8062#2012-10-25

phylcana 8072#2012-10-25

phylcana 8075#2012-10-25

 

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