A procumbent annual with a characteristic covering of glistening papil¬lae. Leaves 3-8 cm long, 5-20 mm broad, more or less spathulate, succulent. Flowers solitary, terminal, pinkish red; pedicel up to 11 cm long. Sepals 5, ovate, persistent. Petals linear, up to 2 cm long, longer than the sepals. Outer stamens petaloid staminodes. Capsule star shaped on dehiscing.

Fl. Per.: Feb.-April.

Type: Probably described from S. Africa.

Distribution: Native to S. Africa; Greece, Spain, USA, Canary Islands.

The ‘ice plant’ is cultivated in gardens for its thick glistening foliage and showy flowers which open in sunlight.