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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
Scientific Name: Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum
Common Name: roundleaf pigface
Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots
Family: Aizoaceae
Form Description: Prostrate, spreading plant, with succulent leaves which are circular or triangular in cross-section and stems up to 2m long.
Flowers: Purple to pink with long, narrow petals, solitary, 3cm in diameter.
Fruit: Fleshy red capsules which become hard and dry when mature.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
Saline flats, saltmarshes and coastal areas in rocky spray zones.
Frost Tolerance
Tender
General Notes
Low maintenance plant which can form extensive mats if planted at 30cm intervals. Grows in sunny frost-free situations, and is tolerant of salt spray. Requires good drainage. Leaves are juicy and edible, can be used in salads. Good for soil stabilisation. This species appears similar to Carpobrotus rossii but the fruits are different; Disphyma crassifolium fruit is hard and dry when mature, and Carpobrotus rossii fruit remains fleshy when mature.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Seeds become red-brown, and the capsules dry and open on the plant. Seed released within 3-14 days of seed maturity. If tiny, red-brown seeds are released when the capsule is squeezed, the capsule is mature.
Seed Treatment Method
Fermentation Collect fleshy fruits in a plastic bag, mash up and allowed to ferment to replicate digestion by a bird.
Seed Treatment Notes
Remove fleshy fruit before sowing. Soak capsules in warm water for a few days.
Cutting & Division Information
Easily grown from cuttings.