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Hottentot-fig Stand

Hottentot-fig Stand

Native to South Africa. It is also known as ice plant, highway ice plant or pigface and in South Africa as the sour fig (suurvy; earlier: hotnotsvy), on account of its edible fruit. Hottentot-fig is a creeping, mat-forming succulent species and a member of the fig-marigold family Aizoaceae.

How To Identify Hottentot-fig?

Colour: Succulent green leaves with trailing dead leaves and stems

Leaves: In opposite pairs. Leaves are triangular in cross section. Some older leaves may appear reddish

Flower: Yellow or magenta solitary flower with a yellow centre. Only opens in sunlight generally in the afternoon  

Hottentot-fig leaves
Hottentot-fig Flowers
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Hottentot-fig - Carpobrotus edulis ID Guide

Hottentot-fig Leaves

Hottentot-fig Flowers

Why Is Hottentot-fig A Problem?

Competes aggressively for space with native plant species. Can smother protected habitats such as dunes and vegetated coastal cliffs.

Hybrid species can lead to intensified invasions.

Can hinder the disturbance regime in dune habitats which are protected under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. 

Hottentot-fig - Invasive Species Information

What Is Hottentot-fig - (Carpobrotus edulis)?

Habitat: Terrestrial. Found mostly on coastal cliffs
Distribution in Ireland: Localised around the east and south coast of the country

Status: Established
Family name: Aizoaceae

Reproduction: Vegetative propagation by runners (rooting at nodes) also capable of reproducing from seed which ripens from July and September

European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 non-native invasive plant species A-Z (Updated 2017)

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There are currently 35 invasive plant species listed in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (annex 2, Part 1)...

 

Click on a species from the following list to find out more regarding non-native species subject to restrictions under Regulations 49 and 50.

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  1. American Skunk-Cabbage - Lysichiton americanus

  2. Brazilian Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera manicata

  3. Broad-Leaved Rush - Juncus planifolius

  4. Cape Pondweed - Aponogeton distachyos

  5. Cord-Grasses - Spartina (all species and hybrids)

  6. Curly Waterweed - Lagarosiphon major

  7. Dwarf Eel-Grass - Zostera japonica

  8. Fanwort - Cabomba caroliniana

  9. Floating Pennywort - Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

  10. Fringed Water-Lily - Nymphoides peltata

  11. Giant Hogweed - Heracleum mantegazzianum

  12. Giant Knotweed - Fallopia sachalinensis

  13. Giant-Rhubarb - Gunnera tinctoria

  14. Giant Salvinia - Salvinia molesta

  15. Himalayan Balsam - Impatiens glandulifera

  16. Himalayan Knotweed - Persicaria wallichii

  17. Hottentot-Fig - Carpobrotus edulis

  18. Japanese Knotweed - Fallopia japonica

  19. Large-Flowered Waterweed - Egeria densa

  20. Mile-a-Minute Weed - Persicaria perfoliata

  21. New Zealand Pigmyweed - Crassula helmsii

  22. Parrots Feather - Myriophyllum aquaticum

  23. Red Alga - Grateloupia doryphora

  24. Rhododendron - Rhododendron ponticum

  25. Salmonberry - Rubus spectabilis

  26. Sea-Buckthorn - Hippophae rhamnoides

  27. Spanish Bluebell - Hyacinthoides hispanica

  28. Three-Cornered Leek - Allium triquetrum

  29. Wakame - Undaria pinnatifida

  30. Water Chestnut - Trapa natans

  31. Water Fern - Azolla filiculoides

  32. Water Lettuce - Pistia stratiotes

  33. Water-Primrose - Ludwigia (all species)

  34. Waterweeds - Elodea (all species)

  35. Wireweed - Sargassum muticum

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