Mesembryanthemum Species, Barrilla, Crystalline Ice Plant, Ice Plant

Per Judd Kirkel Welwitch of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa:
"Another Mesemb showing the phenomenon of the bladder epidermal c...Read Moreells that some species get...this is the ice plant -Mesembryanthemum crystallinum...( like crystals) a weedy species that is very abundant on the Cape coastline, its gets these cells to survive droughts it will utilise the water strored in the epidermal layer to survive, grows pretty much like an annual."

In Asia, it is popular snack, salad ingredient or as vegetable salt (dehydrate and then crushed into close to powder form).

...Read More> It is very expansive (sold by weight) and highly nutritious.

The plants took the salt from soil and reduce the salt in the soil so it can improve the soil for other plants to grow later.

{EDIT} Thanks to the poster above me! I had suspected they weren't native, but really had no idea. I won't be growing them, in any cas...Read Moree, as they wouldn't survive where I am, now. Too bad it's an invasive--it's a lovely plant. I'm keeping away from invasives as much as I can, or keeping them in pots!{/EDIT}

I spotted these weird-looking and gorgeous plants growing wild in a San Diego beach Nature Conservancy area. I have no idea if they're native, but they cover the beach just above the sand line and glitter wonderfully in the sun.

If I ever go back, I'm planning on taking a few cuttings! :)

A succulent plant with branched reclining stems covered with tiny glistening heads of white or reddish flowers in the uppeer leaf axils.<...Read Morebr />
The name actually means "blooming at midday"

There are tiny beads along the stems that are swolen with water, and when crushed give the plant a moist feel. The species name refers to the crystalline look of these water cells.