Carpobrotus chilensis

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Carpobrotus chilensis
Carpobrotuschilensis.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Carpobrotus
Species:
C. chilensis
Binomial name
Carpobrotus chilensis
(Molina) N.E. Br
Synonyms

Mesembryanthemum chilense

Sea fig (Carpobrotus chilensis) was found growing in the salt spray of the bay at Larkspur ferry terminal. The green, immature fruits were too astringent to eat, and pickling for days in vinegar brine did not help things. When reddish-brown and soft, the astringency was almost entirely gone and the fruit (eaten after peeling off the thick outer layer) was similar to a salty, sour fig with many seeds.