Editing Ice plant (section)

== Introduction ==

'''Mesembryanthemum crystallinum''', commonly known as the ice plant, is a succulent flowering plant belonging to the Aizoaceae family. It is native to coastal North Africa, Sinai, the Levant, and southern Europe, and has been naturalized in various regions including North America, South America, Australia, and several islands<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=14983581</ref><ref>http://llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Aizoaceae/32528/Mesembryanthemum_crystallinum</ref>. The plant’s scientific name ''crystallinum'' refers to its distinctive ice-like bladder cells on the leaves and stems, which give it a glistening appearance<ref>https://pza.sanbi.org/mesembryanthemum-crystallinum</ref><ref>https://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/Plants%20of%20Upper%20Newport%20Bay%20(Robert%20De%20Ruff)/Alliaceae/Aizoaceae/Mesembryanthemum%20crystallinum.htm</ref>. ''M. crystallinum'' is valued for its ornamental qualities, edible leaves, and potential uses in bio-remediation due to its ability to accumulate salt<ref>https://pza.sanbi.org/mesembryanthemum-crystallinum</ref><ref>https://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/Plants%20of%20Upper%20Newport%20Bay%20(Robert%20De%20Ruff)/Alliaceae/Aizoaceae/Mesembryanthemum%20crystallinum.htm</ref>.

<span id="characteristics"></span>