Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

Linnaeus

Tracheophyta » Caryophyllales » Aizoaceae » Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

Common name (English)

Common iceplant

Ηabitat

B1 Coastal Sand

B2 Coastal shingle

X24 Domestic gardens (urban)

X22 Non-domestic gardens (small)

X23 Non-domestic gardens (large)

Global distribution

Spain (I), Baleares (I), Gibraltar (I), France, Corsica, Sardinia, Malta, Sicily, Italy, Croatia, Portugal (I), Greece (incl. Kiklades), Crete, East Aegaean Isl., Rhodos, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Cyprus (I) (E-Cyprus (I)), Egypt (Eastern Desert, Nile Delta, NW-coastal Egypt), Israel (coastal W-Israel), Sinai peninsula (N-Sinai), St. Helena (I), South Africa (N-Cape Prov., W-Cape Prov., E-Cape Prov.), W-Namibia, Western Sahara, Australia (I) (Western Australia (I), South Australia (I), New South Wales (I), Victoria (I), Tasmania (I)), Peru (I), Argentina (I), Chile (I), Ecuador (I), Venezuela (I), Mexico (I), Desventuradas Isl. (I), China (I), Uzbekistan (I), Azores (Sao Miguel Isl., Terceira, Graciosa), Madeira (Madeira Isl., Ilhas Desertas, Porto Santo Isl.), Islas Selvagens, Canary Isl. (Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, Hierro, La Palma Isl.), Pakistan (I), India (I), USA (I) (Arizona (I), California (I), Pennsylvania (I)) 125728 0

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Habitat detail

"Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. was recorded by Meikle (1977) as very rare, not seen since 1862. Larnaca (East 3 km), seashore, June 1988, T. Tsintides s.n. and June 1989 in FD 643; Dhekelia to Larnaca seashore, June 1989 and June 1990, A. Della in ARI 3201 and in ARI 3604, respectively. M. crystallinum L. was planted in Khrysokhou Bay (Yialia area) during 1989 by the Cyprus Forestry Dept. (pers. comm.)" (Della and Iatrou 1995).

"Division 4: Sanacosta restaurant, between Larnaka and Dekeleia, E of Larnaka, sandy and gravelly beach, sea level, 29.4.1989, Hadjikyriakou 273; Chryso Psari, between Larnaka and Dekeleia, E of Larnaka, sandy and gravelly beach, sea level, 2.6.1989, Hadjikyriakou 296" (Hand 2003).

Establishment status

Unknown

Establishment status detail

Cryptogenic: Loose open sandy or gravelly ground near sea-level - only listed for Division 4 and there very rare and casual (no recent records but likely to be found on Cyprus).

First detection year

1862

Pathway

1 RELEASE IN NATURE - Other intentional release - Other

2 ESCAPE FROM CONFINEMENT - Ornamental other than horticulture – Orn

References

Meikle RD (1977) Flora of Cyprus, Vol. 1.

Della A, Iatrou G (1995) New plant records from Cyprus. Kew Bulletin 50: 387-396.

Alziar G (2000) Compte rendu du 4ème Iter Mediterraneum. Bocconea 11: 5-83.

Hand R (2003) Supplementary notes to the flora of Cyprus III. Willdenowia 33(2): 305-325. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.33.33209