Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Synonyms

Cryophytum crystallinum (L.) N.E. Br.
Gasoul crystallinum (L.) Rothm.

Family

Aizoaceae

Common Names

common ice plant, common ice-plant, common iceplant, crystalline ice plant, crystalline iceplant, ice plant, ice-plant, iceplant

Origin

Native to northern Africa (i.e. northern Algeria, northern Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt), south-western Africa (i.e. Namibia and South Africa), western Asia and southern Europe (i.e. Italy, south-western Yugoslavia, south-eastern France and Spain).

Naturalised Distribution

This species is widely naturalised throughout the southern and western parts of the continent, extending as far north as Exmouth on the north-western coast of Western Australia. It is common in western New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, the southern parts of South Australia and the southern and western parts of Western Australia.

Also widely naturalised overseas, including in south-western USA (i.e. California and Oregon), Mexico and southern South America.

Notes

Common ice-plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) is a significant environmental weed in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, and an environmental weed in Tasmania and New South Wales.