Ice plant

Ice plant

Scientific Name:
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

Family:
Aizoaceae

Varieties:

• Default (ID: 69)

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. 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. M. crystallinum is valued for its ornamental qualities, edible leaves, and potential uses in bio-remediation due to its ability to accumulate salt.

Characteristics

• Physical Characteristics: M. crystallinum is a prostrate, succulent annual or perennial plant with sprawling stems that can grow up to 60 cm in length. The leaves are ovate to spathulate, 2-10 cm long, and covered with large, glistening bladder cells that resemble ice crystals. The flowers are daisy-like, ranging from white to pink to mauve, and are pollinated by insects.
• Growing Conditions: It thrives in a variety of soils, including saline and poor soils, and can tolerate high humidity and temperatures as low as 10°C, though it is sensitive to frost. The plant is commonly found in disturbed sites like roadsides and coastal areas.
• Lifecycle: M. crystallinum germinates with the first rains, grows and flowers from winter to early summer, and can continue flowering into late summer depending on environmental conditions.

Why is this crop useful for space?

M. crystallinum could be beneficial for space cultivation due to several reasons: - Water Conservation: Its succulent nature and ability to store water in bladder cells make it efficient in water usage, which is crucial in space environments where water is scarce. - Adaptability: The plant’s tolerance to poor soils and high salinity could be advantageous in controlled environments with limited nutrient availability. - Edibility: The leaves are edible and can provide a source of nutrition in space missions. - Stress Tolerance: Its stress-tolerant nature might help it adapt to the unique stressors of space environments, such as microgravity and radiation.

History of Cultivation in Space (if there is any)

There is no specific information available on the cultivation of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum in space. However, its characteristics make it a potential candidate for future space agriculture experiments focused on water-efficient and stress-tolerant crops.