Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Genus: | Disphyma |
| Species: | |
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D. c. subsp. clavellatum
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| Trinomial name | |
| Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum (Haw.) Chinnock
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Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum is a special type of plant found in Australia and New Zealand. It's part of a group of plants called Disphyma crassifolium.
People sometimes call this plant the rounded noon-flower. It's also known as "karkalla" in Australia, especially when used as a native food. However, the name "karkalla" originally belonged to a different plant, Carpobrotus rossii.
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What Does This Plant Look Like?
This plant grows close to the ground. It can be a small, juicy shrub or an annual herb. It usually reaches a height of two to 30 centimetres.
Its leaves are round, which is different from other pigface plants. The flowers of this plant can be pink, purple, or violet.
How Did It Get Its Name?
Scientists give plants special names to help identify them. This plant's journey to its current name is quite interesting.
In 1786, a scientist named Georg Forster first mentioned a similar plant from New Zealand. Later, in 1803, Adrian Hardy Haworth named a plant from Australia Mesembryanthemum clavellatum.
Over time, scientists studied these plants more closely. In 1976, Robert Chinnock moved the M. clavellatum plant into the Disphyma group.
By the 1980s, scientists realized that many plants thought to be different were actually very similar. They decided that most Disphyma plants were just one species, D. crassifolium.
However, in 1986, they noticed a clear difference. Plants from South Africa were a bit different from those in Australia and New Zealand. So, they created a new subspecies. D. crassifolium subsp. clavellatum was named for the plants found in Australia and New Zealand.
Where Does This Plant Grow?
Disphyma crassifolium is found in many places across Australia and New Zealand. It likes to grow in salty areas.
You can often find it in coastal sand dunes. It also grows in flat areas with salt-loving plants. This plant can grow in different types of soil, including sand, loam, and clay.
How Do People Use This Plant?
The leaves of Disphyma crassifolium have become a popular native vegetable in Australia. It is often sold under the name "karkalla."
The leaves usually have a salty taste. You can eat them fresh, like a salad green. They can also be pickled, which means they are preserved in a salty or sour liquid.
