Carpobrotus deliciosus flower

The pinkish purple flowers of Carpobrotus deliciosus grow solitary at stem tips. A few rows of shiny, thin petals spread, ascending above the flower centre where the filaments are white, the tiny anthers yellow and the ovary is raised. Some tiny inner petals sometimes add petal colour to the flower centre as well.

Fleshy green sepals with acutely pointed tips are present below the petals. The green base of the flower narrows abruptly into the pedicel. Flower diameter is 6 cm to 8 cm. Flowering happens from late winter to mid-spring.

The fleshy green fruit dries, its skin becoming brown around the segments that carry small seeds in a sweet, juicy and slimy pulp. The sepal lobes remain on the fruit, the upper parts of the fruit skin.

The fruits are eaten by animals like baboons, often also by people. Tortoises may also eat the leaves. Sour fig preserve made from the fruit of particularly this Carpobrotus species is common and well-known (Manning, 2009; Moriarty, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iSpot).