Family:

Aizoaceae

Habitat:

Ruderal meadow

Growth habit:

succulent

Plant size:

up to 15 cm

Flower colour:

yellow, purple

Flowering time

March - July

Leaf characteristics:

opposite, fleshy, 8 - 12 cm long, 3-edged, narrowed towards the tip, finely serrated at the upper edge

Flower characteristics:

solitary, 6 - 9 cm wide, with numerous petals

Fruits:

fleshy, edible, sour berries ("Hottentot fig")

Special features:

In the Mediterranean region, the noonday flower is planted and naturalised as an ornamental plant and for stabilising slopes and dunes. The red variety used to be known as Carpobrotus acinaciformis , but is now considered to be a variety of the yellow noon flower.