Species name :

Mesembryanthemum crystallinumL.
Published in Sp. Pl. 480 (1753)

Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.)

Cryophytum crystallinum (L.) N.E.Br.

Full list of synonyms : [Euro+Med] [PlantList] [IPNI] [POWO] [Catalogue of Life] [Worldplants.de]

Plant Family :

Aizooaceae Rudolphi (The Fig-Marigold Family)
16 species from the Aizooaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands.

English name(s) :

Crystal Ice Plant, Silvery-leaved Mesembryanthemum

Maltese name(s) :

Kristallina tar-ramel, Kristallina kbira

Status for Malta :

Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man

Frequency :

Very Common     Common    Frequent     Scarce     Rare    Very rare    Extinct

Growth form :

Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: THEROPHYTE ( annual plants, herbaceous )
Germination [info]: Dicotyledon

Legal Protection :

Not legally protected till the last update of this website (25/Sep/2021)

Red List (1989) :

Threatened status for the Maltese Islands and has been listed in the Red Data Book (1st ed.)

Flowering Time :

May – July

Colour of Flowers:

White or Yellow

Name Derivation :

Mesembryanthemum: Conjugation of two Greek words Mesembria - meaning midday or noon and -anthemon meaniny flower; in allusion to the fact that plants bloom at noon. In the past, many succulent plants have been classified in this genus for this artificail habit, however, many Mesembryanthemum species have been later placed to more appropriate genera sharing common morphological or/and genetic traits. (Greek origin )

crystallinum: Crystal-like. (Latin origin )

Remarks :

A beautiful, succulent plant with large flattened leaves covered in blister-like water cells which flowers abundantaly in late Spring to early Summer. It is becoming more rare due to human disturbances and habitat loss.