Carpobrotus edulis subsp. edulis flower

The thin, narrowly oblong petals of the Carpobrotus edulis subsp. edulis flower angle out and up in a few haphazard rows or rings to form a shallow bowl. The base of the bowl, the fuzzy floor of the flower centre is well covered by many stamens and staminodes, a few wiry stigmas in their midst. All the floral parts visible from above are shades of yellow, some dull, others translucent or slightly orange.

The specific name, edulis, is derived from the Latin words edo meaning to eat and -ilis indicating capacity or ability, referring to the edibility of the fruits. Medicinal uses of the leaf juices of this plant include making lotions for treating burns and bluebottle stings (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; Mustart, et al, 1997; Andrew, 2017).