Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum

Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum, commonly known as the slenderleaf iceplant, and previously scientifically Cryophytum nodiflorum and C. cleistum among many other names, is a creeping annual, a leaf succulent reaching 3 cm in height. The plant mostly forms a prostrate clump or mat of stems up to about 20 cm long. This is the type species of the Mesembryanthemum genus. 

The simple, opposite leaves clasp the slender stems slightly, growing in spaced, equal pairs. The succulent leaves are erect, linear and cylindrical in shape or nearly so. The upper leaf surfaces may be shallowly channelled, the tips rounded. The leaf surfaces are rough from a conspicuous covering of large, rounded bladder cells that store water. Leaf colours are pale green to yellow-green, sometimes variously reddish from trying conditions. Leaf dimensions are about 2 cm long and 2 mm wide.

The South African distribution of the species is in the Western Cape and the Northern Cape, from the Namaqualand Coastal Plain and the Knersvlakte as far as the Little Karoo. The photo was taken west of Barrydale. Also found in Namibia, these plants occur further afield in nature, as far as the Middle East and southern Europe. In addition, they are naturalised as invasive weeds in South Australia, southern parts of the USA and on some islands.

The habitat is sandy flats among karoid scrub. It is no surprise that the habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).