Aizoaceae

Carpetweed Family

Iceplants

FAMILY: Carpetweed family (Aizoaceae) – Mesembryanthemum genus.

SPECIES: #1 common iceplant, crystalline iceplant, or dewplant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. = Gasoul crystallinum (L.) Rothm.). #2 slenderleaf or narrowleaf iceplant (Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum L.).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: All parts of common iceplant are edible (Woodward pp. 383-387), and most of them can be eaten fresh. Slenderleaf iceplant has edible seeds, but other parts are not reported to be edible.

Common iceplant (M. crystallinum) is covered with crystal-like or dew-like bumps. These so-called “ice crystals” are filled with saltwater. No other plants in the region look similar, so misidentification is highly unlikely. Common iceplant is native to southern Africa and found along ocean coasts and similar habitats in various parts of the world including Australia, the Mediterranean, the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, and the Salton Sea of southern California. It’s cultivated as a vegetable and sold in markets in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and France (Heistinger p. 220). The leaves and stems are a pleasant combination of tender, salty, juicy, and tangy. The flavor is reasonably mild, but definitely too salty and with a peculiar fishy overtone inspiring thoughts of the ocean. It has elements of spinach, asparagus, and green beans. Leaf texture is nonfibrous and completely chewable. Stem texture is stringy. Boiling reduces the salt content. This plant would be excellent for quenching thirst if the salt content was lower. Water can literally be wrung out of the stems and leaves. Considering the desert habitat, encountering any plant so heavily laden with water might seem like a mirage, but this plant is real. Common iceplant is a “weed” in California, so gathering some for a meal won’t threaten the species’ survival and shouldn’t violate any laws intended to protect plants. Common iceplant can appear anytime in response to rain, but it typically appears in spring and produces fruits (capsules) in late summer. Capsules remain moist until the plants dry out in autumn. Dry capsules retain seeds until rainfall returns to the desert. Rainfall triggers a release mechanism that causes the capsules to open. This type of seed dispersal is called “hygrochastic” and ensures that the seeds are released under conditions suitable for germination. Since rainfall is erratic in the Southwest, the life cycle of common iceplant may begin anytime.

Slenderleaf iceplant (M. nodiflorum) has edible seeds, but other parts are not reported to be edible. “Crystals” covering the stems and leaves are much smaller than those of common iceplant, but some other characteristics are similar. These similarities are not meant to imply any fitness for consumption. Slenderleaf iceplant is often more common than common iceplant and clearly allied in flavor, texture, and aroma. Both species bloom at about the same time in the same region, which is primarily March to May in the Salton Sea basin of southern California and along the Pacific Coast. Leaves of slenderleaf iceplant taste like ordinary garden vegetables combined with a hint of strawberries and way too much salt. The flavor is pleasant and lacks the fishy character of common iceplant. The texture is moist and tender. Slenderleaf iceplant appears to be a decent wild food, but verification of its edibility, except for the seeds, was not possible.

NOTES: The field assessments for iceplants were based on colonies from the Salton Sea basin in southern California, where both species listed above thrive. Leaves and fruits of related plants called Hottentot figs (Carpobrotus edulis = Mesembryanthemum edule) and sea figs (Carpobrotus chilensis = Mesembryanthemum chilense) are also edible (Couplan p. 105). These related plants are found along ocean coasts in various parts of the world including southern California, but they’re otherwise absent from the Southwest at this point in time. Both of them spread aggressively from regenerative root systems and form dense colonies in suitable habitats. In the future, they may establish along washes and roadways in warmer parts of the Southwest.

IDENTIFICATION: Currently, only 2 species of the Mesembryanthemum genus occur in the United States. The Aptenia, Carpobrotus, Drosanthemum, and Lampranthus genera are closely related, but species within these genera look sufficiently different to make confusion unlikely, and they seldom establish in the wild. No other plants are likely to be confused with iceplants.

Description of common iceplant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum): FORM succulent plant about 7-80 cm tall with ice-like bumps covering most parts; LEAVES simple; alternate or opposite; sessile or short-stalked; blades irregularly oval or spoon-shaped, flat in cross section, and often with the bases clasping the stems; margins often wavy; surfaces conspicuously bumpy (papillate); FLOWERS regular, ovary partially inferior, and arranged individually or in clusters; calyces 5-lobed; petals numerous (20-40), free, linear, white, pink, or yellow; stamens numerous; FRUITS capsules 5-chambered and filled with numerous seeds; HABITAT primarily southern California along the Pacific Coast, also in the Salton Sea basin and other low-elevation saline habitats; blooming nearly throughout the year.

Description of slenderleaf iceplant (Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum): FORM succulent annual plant about 5-25 cm tall with tiny bumps covering most parts; LEAVES simple; alternate or opposite; sessile or short-stalked; blades linear, and rounded in cross section; margins not wavy; FLOWERS regular, ovary partially inferior, and arranged individually or in clusters; calyces 5-lobed; petals numerous, free, linear, white, light pink, or light yellow; stamens numerous; FRUITS capsules 5-chambered and filled with numerous seeds; HABITAT low-elevation saline areas; primarily of southern California along the Pacific Coast, also in the Salton Sea basin; blooming from spring to autumn.

REFERENCES: #1 common iceplant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum): all parts Woodward (pp. 383-387); stems and leaves Couplan (p. 105); fruits Hodgson (p. 75). #2 slenderleaf iceplant (Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum): seeds Mandaville (p. 315).

Western Sea Purslane

FAMILY: Carpetweed family (Aizoaceae) – Sesuvium genus.

SPECIES: Western sea purslane (Sesuvium verrucosum Raf. = Sesuvium erectum Correll).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: The leaves and seeds of western sea purslane are fairly good wild foods that can be eaten fresh or cooked.

Leaves of western sea purslane are tender, juicy, and salty. The flavor is somewhat like spinach spiked with too much salt. An ocean-like or fish-like accent may be present. No tough fibers, irritating hairs, excessive mucilage, or harsh flavors compromise the quality of these leaves. Fresh leaves contribute a pleasant texture to salads. Mixing the leaves with other greens is recommended due to the excessive salt content. The succulent stems have similar aspects, except for being fibrous. Younger stems are less fibrous than older stems. All the aboveground parts can serve as potherbs, but the leaves are better suited for any purpose. As potherbs, the leaves taste reminiscent of salty garden vegetables. Subtle accents dissipate in the simmering broth. Western sea purslane leaves are a good resource available all year long, but the plants are uncommon in the Southwest.

Seeds of western sea purslane are smooth, round, tiny, and brownish-black. Numerous seeds are contained within 3-celled capsules that readily split open. When eaten raw, the seeds are firm, crunchy, and bland. An accent suggesting shoe polish or soapy dishwater may be noticeable. Other accents may also be noticeable. Plants of alkaline habitats often taste salty, fishy, or ocean-like. Boiling improves the flavor of western sea purslane seeds and dissipates any strange accents. Gathering enough seeds for a meal is a tedious endeavor. The gathering season is primarily from April to June, but this varies greatly according to rainfall patterns, so seeds can be found almost anytime. Processing the seeds is also tedious due to bits of chaff that stubbornly resist winnowing. Overall, western sea purslane seeds seem to be a decent wild food, but the plants are uncommon in the Southwest.

IDENTIFICATION: The Sesuvium genus is currently represented by 6 species in the United States, of which only western sea purslane (S. verrucosum) is likely to be found in the Southwest. Most species prefer tropical regions, especially along oceans, and reach the United States in Texas. Note that the sepals have colorful upper surfaces that appear to be petals. The two are essentially fused together.

Description of western sea purslane (Sesuvium verrucosum): FORM spreading, perennial plant up to 9 dm tall; often forming mats; STEMS branching from the bases and not rooting at the nodes; LEAVES simple, opposite, thick, and fleshy; blades linear, elliptic, lance-shaped, or spoon-shaped, 5-40 mm long; margins entire; surfaces warty (verrucose); FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary partially inferior, and arranged individually in the axils; sessile or on short stalks; calyces 5-lobed, purple, petal-like, and normally with hood-like or horn-like tips; petals 0; styles 2-5; stamens numerous (about 30); filaments fused in the lower half; FRUITS capsules egg- to globe-shaped, 2-5-chambered, splitting open around the equator, and filled with 20-40 seeds; SEEDS smooth, shiny, blackish-brown, and about 1 mm in diameter; HABITAT disturbed areas, barren areas, and shores of seasonally dry lakes below 1,000 meters (about 3,000 feet) elevation; scattered about the Southwest; blooming throughout the year, but mainly in spring.

REFERENCES: Western sea purslane (Sesuvium verrucosum): leaves and seeds Ebeling (p. 826).

Desert Horse Purslane

FAMILY: Carpetweed family (Aizoaceae) – Trianthema genus.

SPECIES: Desert horse purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum L.).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: The leaves and seeds of desert horse purslane are reported to be edible, whether or not they really are edible is a matter of opinion.

Leaves of desert horse purslane taste acrid when eaten fresh or cooked. Aside from the acrid bite, the flavor suggests a combination of purslane and spinach spiked with way too much salt, and comparisons to freshly mowed grass wouldn’t be too far off target! The texture is pleasant and mucilage is low. Fresh leaves are thick, round, and succulent. Adding these leaves to salads is risky. Utilizing them as potherbs is a bit safer. Fresh or cooked leaves taste about the same. Boiled leaves taste a little milder, but they retain a sharp flavor. The resulting broth is dark green. Mixing the leaves with milder greens, herbs, or seasonings is recommended. Some colonies produce mild leaves, but the trend is towards harsh. These low-lying plants appear in response to summer rains, so they’re available from midsummer to late autumn. At best, desert horse purslane is a wild food of little value.

NOTES: No shortage of opportunities were available for gathering desert horse purslane during the research phase of this book, so I partook of many samples, primarily from the San Simon Valley of southeastern Arizona. Most of the leaf samples had a disappointing flavor that was terribly acrid. Only a few samples honestly qualified as mild, and they barely made that qualification. Desert horse purslane is not a plant that I would recommend for consumption. Leaves of common purslane and other species of the unrelated Portulaca genus taste far superior.

Seeds of desert horse purslane are another potential resource, but gathering them is easier said than done. Proper timing and technique are imperative. I gathered a few of these seeds, but not enough for a sufficient sample. The seeds are confined within tiny capsules wedged in the leaf axils. Lids of these capsules readily fall off and release the seeds. On one hand that’s good news because the capsules are easy to open. On the other hand that’s bad news because the seeds tend to disappear before they can be gathered, hence the need for proper timing and technique. I suspect the technique used for other succulent plants would be successful, but I haven’t tested it on desert horse purslane. That technique is to gather whole plants slightly before the capsules mature, place the plants on a tarp where they can get some sunlight, and wait a few days. Succulent plants store enough water to continue the process of seed development even when detached from the roots, at least for a short period of time. As the plants dry out, seeds fall onto the tarp. A little threshing motivates the capsules to release the seeds. This technique works on a number of succulent plants and should work on desert horse purslane. Whether or not it’s worth the effort remains to be seen. Since desert horse purslane responds to summer rainfall, look for the seeds in autumn.

IDENTIFICATION: In the United States, the Trianthema genus is represented by only one species. Desert horse purslane is the only nontropical species of the genus.

Description of desert horse purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum): FORM low-lying, fleshy, hairless, annual plant; usually less than 70 cm tall; LEAVES simple; opposite, with the pairs unequal; stipules tooth-like; stalks about equaling the blades; blades rounded, up to 40 mm long; margins entire; FLOWERS regular, perfect, tiny, sessile, ovary superior, arranged individually in the axils, and opening in the morning; bracts 2; sepals 5, purple, petal-like, and often with pointed tips; petals 0; styles 1-2; stigmas 2; stamens 5-10; FRUITS capsules splitting open around the equators, upper halves winged and falling away as lids; SEEDS dull reddish-brown, ridged, 1-5 per capsule; HABITAT sandy or disturbed soils at low to mid elevations, often associated with dry lakes and areas periodically inundated with water; blooming anytime, but usually in summer and autumn.

REFERENCES: Desert horse purslane (Trianthema portulacastrum): leaves Couplan (p. 106), Ebeling (p. 483), and Newsom (p. 95); seeds Newsom (p. 95), Rea (p. 72), and Reed (p. 84).