Carpobrotus quadrifidus

L. Bolus

Aizoaceae Edible: Fruit 265 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Carpobrotus quadrifidus (commonly known as west-coast sourfig, Weskus suurvy) is a succulent perennial of the family Aizoaceae, native to the west coast of South Africa. A possible synonym is Carpobrotus sauerae.

Description

A succulent shrub. The stems are trailing. They can be 2.5 m long. They are 4-6 angled. The leaves are 3 angled. They are 8-14 cm long by 1.8-2.5 cm wide. The flowers occur singly and are white to pink. The fruit has 13-22 sections. It is a fleshy berry.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten as a snack and can be stored.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten as a snack. They are also stored.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in coastal regions and sandy lowlands.

Where It Grows

Africa, South Africa, Southern Africa,

Synonyms

Carpobrotus quadrifidus var. rosea L. BolusCarpobrotus sauerae Schwaites

References (2)

Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 7
Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179