ice plant

ice plant
a plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, native to the Mediterranean region, having fleshy leaves that are covered with glistening vesicles and are sometimes eaten as greens.
[1745-55]

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also called  sea fig , or  sea marigold 

      (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), low-growing annual plant, of the carpetweed family (Aizoaceae), and one of 25 species commonly called fig-marigolds, constituting the genus Mesembryanthemum. Most are fleshy-leaved desert herbs. Ice plant is the most commonly grown species and is named for the transparent, glistening swellings on its edible leaves. It is cultivated in gardens and as an indoor potted plant. It is naturalized in California, where it clothes road embankments and provides an erosion control.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Ice plant — (Bot.) A plant ({Mesembryanthemum crystallinum}), sprinkled with pellucid, watery vesicles, which glisten like ice. It is native along the Mediterranean, in the Canaries, and in South Africa. Its juice is said to be demulcent and diuretic; its… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ice plant — n. a succulent Old World plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) of the carpetweed family, having thick leaves covered with thin, glistening cells that look like ice crystals …   English World dictionary

  • ice plant — ice′ plant n. pln a low growing Old World plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, of the carpetweed family, having tiny glistening sacs on its fleshy, edible leaves • Etymology: 1745–55 …   From formal English to slang

  • Ice plant — or iceplant may refer to a number of plants including:* Carpobrotus chilensis * Carpobrotus edulis * Delosperma cooperi * Hylotelephium spectabile * Martynia annua * Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (syn. Cryophytum crystallinum ) …   Wikipedia

  • ice plant — noun Old World annual widely naturalized in warm regions having white flowers and fleshy foliage covered with hairs that resemble ice • Syn: ↑icicle plant, ↑Mesembryanthemum crystallinum • Hypernyms: ↑fig marigold, ↑pebble plant * * * I. noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • ice plant — krištolinė pluoštagėlė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pluoštagėlinių šeimos daržovinis, dekoratyvinis, vaistinis augalas (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), paplitęs šiaurės Afrikoje, pietvakarių Azijoje ir pietų Europoje. atitikmenys: lot.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • ice plant — A building in which artificial ice is frozen. Also, a place where ice is stored …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • ice plant — /ˈaɪs plænt/ (say uys plant) noun 1. any of various plants of the genus Mesembryanthemum native to South Africa, especially Cryophytum crystalinum, a low succulent plant with leaves covered by small glistening bladder shaped hairs. 2. any of… …  

  • ice plant — noun 1》 a South African succulent which has leaves covered with glistening fluid filled hairs that resemble ice crystals. [Genera Mesembryanthemum and Dorotheanthus.] 2》 an Asian stonecrop which bears domed heads of tiny pink flowers. [Sedum… …   English new terms dictionary

  • ice plant — noun a succulent annual, Carpobrotus edulis, of the stone plant family, having pale pink flowers and fleshy leaves covered with glistening hairs …   Wiktionary

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