Marygold, Sea spinach
Mesembryanthemum aitonis

Family: Aizoaceae

What it is like

A herb or low shrub. The stems can be erect or trailing. The stems and branches are angular. The stems are tinged with red. The leaves are opposite or alternate on the branches. The leaves are oval or spoon shaped. They are 1-4 cm long and 0.5-3 cm wide.

Also put in the family Mesembryanthemaceae.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Central Africa, Congo DR, Mediterranean, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cleretum puberulum (Haw.) N.E.Br.; Cryophytum aitonis (Jacq.) N.E.Br.; Cryophytum angulatum (Thunb.) Schwantes; Cryophytum bijliae N.E.Br.; Cryophytum burchellii N.E.Br.; Cryophytum clandestinum (Haw.) L. Bolus; Cryophytum conjectum N.E.Br.; Cryophytum paulum N.E.Br.; Cryophytum planum L.Bolus; Gasoul aitonis (Jacq.) H. Eichler; Mesembryanthemum alsinifolium G.Don; Mesembryanthemum angulatum Thunb. Mesembryanthemum angulatum Thunb. var. ovatum (Thunb.) Sond.; Mesembryanthemum clandestinum Haw.; Mesembryanthemum crystallophanes Eckl. & Zeyh.; Mesembryanthemum lanceolatum Haw.; Mesembryanthemum louiseae L.Bolus; Mesembryanthemum ovatum Thunb.; Mesembryanthemum paulum (N.E.Br.) L.Bolus; Mesembryanthemum puberulum Haw.; Mesembryanthemum sessiliflorum Aiton var. album Haw.; Mesembryanthemum sessiliflorum Aiton var. ß Haw.; Mesembryanthemum stratum L.Bolus; Mesembryanthemum volckameri Haw.; Micropterum puberulum (Haw.) Schwantes; Micropterum sessiliflorum (Aiton) Schwantes var. album (Haw.) H.Jacobsen; Pentacoilanthus aitonis (Jacq.) Rappa & Camarrone; Perapentacoilanthus aitonis (Jacq.) Rappa & Camarrone;