#aizoaceae

A few weeks ago, I was lucky to take a short trip to Encinitas and squeeze a beach visit in (for the first time since moving to SoCal ). I’m looking forward to learning more about the vast variety of biomes in my (relatively) new CA residence, and coastal environments are especially interesting. Plants who make their homes on beaches fascinate me…it seems such a harsh life full of salt, wind, and changing tides. Considering the high levels of  human activity as well as natural disturbance, it’s no surprise that the two prominent (non-grass) species who stood out to me are non-natives: an Aizoaceae sprawling across the substrate and a cheerful Brassicaceae sticking up here and there. The Aizoaceae (the Vygie or ice plant family) is probably a hybrid in the genus Carpobrotus while the Brassicaceae (mustard family) is probably Cakile maritima, native to Europe. I wonder what natives they might be crowding out? #Carpobrotus #Aizoaceae #Cakile #Brassicaceae #invasiveplants #nonnativeplants #weeds #california #southerncalifornia #SoCal #botany #botanize #plants #beach #ecology (at Moonlight Beach)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8rvr8lgWD7/?igshid=1sd9bxiyf6m4w

Ruschia crassa

This species is one of several Ruschia plants with semi-cylindrical stems. The leaf-pairs clasp the stem, with only little thumb-like projections at the tips. The stringy white flowers are unusual as well. From South Africa’s Great Karoo region. Ruschia belongs to the Ice Plant Family (Aizoaceae).

-Brian