About Carpobrotus acinaciformis (L.) L.Bolus
All species of the Carpobrotus genus, commonly called "sour fig", grow as sprawling succulent groundcovers. Carpobrotus acinaciformis has bright pink-purple flowers. It bears five short calyx lobes that are all relatively similar in length, which differs from the calyx lobes of the related species C. edulis. The receptacle is mostly sub-globose, rarely slightly oblong, and tapers only gently where it connects to the stalk. The top of the ovary is often slightly depressed in its center. The leaves of C. acinaciformis are stout, scimitar-shaped (the trait that gives the species its epithet acinaciform), and form an isosceles triangle in cross-section when cut perpendicularly. Their color is a dull glaucous-green, sometimes with reddish edges or angles. This species is naturally endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa. Its natural native habitat is coastal dunes, ranging from as far north as Melkbosstrand, across the Cape Peninsula, and eastward to near Mossel Bay. A more compact, rarer form of the species also grows inland, from Cape Town eastward to Riversdale. East of its natural range (east of Mossel Bay), C. acinaciformis transitions into the related species Carpobrotus deliciosus. West and north of its natural range (north of Melkbosstrand in Cape Town), it transitions into the related species Carpobrotus quadrifidus. C. acinaciformis has very showy pink or purple flowers, so it is frequently cultivated, especially in mild coastal climates. Its fruits are edible, and people in southern Africa use them to make a traditional jam. In the wild, the fruits are grazed by tortoises and other southern African herbivores. In some areas outside its native range, such as south-west England, C. acinaciformis has become naturalised on sea cliffs and can outcompete native plant species. Its common name "Sally-my-handsome" comes from its former classification in the genus Mesembryanthemum.
