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Carpobrotus chilensis
Also called Ice plant, Chilean Angled Pigface, Chilean Ice Plant, Chilean Sea Fig
Carpobrotus chilensis is a species of edible succulent plant known by the common name sea fig. It grows on coastal sand dunes and bluffs and is used as an ornamental plant. However, along with its relative C. edulis, it has invaded sections of the California coast at the expense of native vegetation, and is subject to control efforts.
Usually found in warm temperate and subtropical areas, it is probably native to southern Africa. It is familiar elsewhere, particularly the coastline of western North America, where it is an introduced invasive species that has taken hold and become commonplace. It is also found, and naturalised, in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Australia, Spain, Greece, Southern England and New Zealand. Grown in sunny conditions, it is normally found within coastal dunes and bluffs, margins of estuaries, along roadsides; at elevations from sea level to 100 m (330 ft) along the southern Pacific Coast of North America.
The plant has a pleasant flavour, although it can be laxative if eaten in high quantity, especially its fruit. The plant can be consumed raw or cooked (especially its leaves), or dried for future use or made into pickles and chutney. There is only a tiny amount of flesh in the fruit, and it must be fully ripe otherwise it is very sour. The leaves can be used in salads and can also be used as a replacement for pickled cucumber.
Sally My Handsome · Chilean Pigface · Delicious Sourfig · Natal dune vygie · Hottentot fig · Angular Sea-Fig · Mountain Sourfig · Inland Pigface · Albertinia sour fig · Giant Sourfig · Karkalla · Coastal Pigface
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Carpobrotus chilensis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
