Carpobrotus N.E.Br.
Prostrate perennial succulent herbs; stems trailing. Lvs opposite, sessile, united at base, sharply 3-angled, smooth, bitter-tasting. Fls solitary, terminal, ebracteate. Sepals 5, sharply 3-angled: 2 large, denticulate on keels, 3 smaller with expanded membranous margins. Petals numerous, > sepals, free; stamens numerous; staminodes 0. Placentation parietal. Stigmas 8-16, plumose. Fr. indehiscent, fleshy, mucilaginous; locules as many as stigmas. Seeds slightly compressed, obovoid, smooth.
Key
25 spp., mainly South Africa, 6 in Australia, 1 in California and Chile. Naturalised spp. 2, both hybridising with Disphyma australe.
