Israel wildflowers: Hottentot Fig-marigold

Carpobrotus acinaciformis, Mesembryanthemum acinaciforme, Hottentot Fig-marigold,

Hebrew: צלקנית החרבות, Arabic: نبات الحي علم

Scientific name:   Carpobrotus acinaciformis (L.) L. Bolus
Synonym name:   Mesembryanthemum acinaciforme L.
Common name   Hottentot Fig-marigold, Giant Pigface, Sally-my-handsome, Sour Fig
Hebrew name:   צלקנית החרבות ,אהל האצבעות
Arabic name:   نبات الحي علم
Family:   Aizoaceae, Fig-marigold family, חיעדיים


Life form:   Perennial
Succulence:   Stem + leaf succulent
Stems:   Angular, procumbent, stem 16-120 cm, articulate, young branches much compressed
Leaves:   3-angled, fleshy, 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter and 9cm long
Flowers:   Solitary, pedunculate, petals and stamens numerous; stigmas 8-20; purple to pink, flower base not tapering into a pedicel
Fruits / pods:   Berries, fleshy, indehiscent (Hottentot-figs)
Flowering Period:   April, May, June, July
Habitat:   Mediterranean strand
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Carpobrotus , karpós, καρπός, “fruit”; brōtós,βρωτός, “edible”; edible fruit.

acinaciformis, acinaces, ακινακηϛ, “short straight sword, saber”, of Persians & Scythians/ Gk: dagger; formis, “to be in the form or shape of…”; scimitar shaped.
Mesembryanthemum , mesembrianthemum, Greek, mesembria, “midday”; anthemon, “flower”; in allusion to the fact that the only species then known all bloomed at noon. When species of other habits became known, the genus was renamed mesembryanthemum. As now spelled, the derivation is mesos, “middle”; embryon, “fruit”; anthemon, “flower.”

  • The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy.
  • The standard author abbreviation L.Bolus is used to indicate Harriet Margaret Louisa Bolus née Kensit (1877-1970), a South African botanist.