''Delosperma'' ('delos'=evident, 'sperma'=seed) is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of around 170

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

succulent plant In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meanin ...

s, formerly included in ''

Mesembryanthemum ''Mesembryanthemum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa. As with many members of that family, it is characterized by long-lasting flower heads. Flowers of ''Mesembryanthemum'' protect their game ...

'' in the family

Aizoaceae The Aizoaceae (), or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1,800 species. Several genera are commonly known as 'ice plants' or 'carpet weeds'. The Aizoaceae are also referred to a ...

. It was defined by English botanist N. E. Brown in 1925. The genus is common in southern and eastern Africa, with a few species in

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

Reunion island Reunion may refer to: * Class reunion * Family reunion Reunion, Réunion, Re-union, Reunions or The Reunion may also refer to: Places * Réunion, a French overseas department and island in the Indian Ocean * Reunion, Commerce City, Colorado, U ...

Yemen Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. Located in South Arabia, southern Arabia, it borders Saudi Arabia to Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, the north, Oman to Oman–Yemen border, the northeast, the south-eastern part ...

and

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...

. ''Delosperma'' species, as do most

, have hygrochastic capsules, opening and closing as they wet and dry.

Distinguishing characters

Plants of the genus ''Delosperma'' can be distinguished by their seed capsules. When these open (in response to rain), the seeds are exposed and not covered by a protective membrane, like those of most other plants in the family. The membrane is sometimes reduced to just a ledge (a feature shared by the related genus '' Trichodiadema''. The triangular valves, which open outwards when wet, each have distinctive wings on either side. ''Delosperma'' leaves tend to be grooved or covered in bladder cells, which are sometimes even extended into hairs. The leaf shape is cylindrical or sometimes flattened.Delosperma - SANBI
/ref> File:Delosperma bosseranum seeds.jpg, When the valves of their seed capsules open, the seeds of ''Delosperma'' are exposed, and not covered by any membrane or covering. File:Delosperma floribundum Starburst 4zz.jpg, '' Delosperma floribundum'' leaves showing bladder cells typical of this genus File:Delosperma sutherlandii 2017-05-31 2119.jpg, The bladder cells of ''

Delosperma sutherlandii ''Delosperma sutherlandii'' is a dwarf perennial plant, native to South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West Province). It forms a dense lawn with abundant, long-lasting flowering. It will reach sizes of 60 cm in ...

'' are elongated into fine hairs File:Delosperma pruinosum 3c.JPG, The bladder cells of '' Delosperma pruinosum'' are extended into thicker hairs. ''Delosperma'' species are long-lived, and flower mostly in the summer. Their flowers vary greatly in colour.

Selected species

Species include: Delosperma basuticum 1

*'' Delosperma aberdeenense'' *''

Delosperma cooperi ''Delosperma cooperi'' (synonym (taxonomy), syn. ''Mesembryanthemum cooperi''), the trailing Iceplant, hardy iceplant or pink carpet, is a dwarf perennial plant native to South Africa. It forms a dense lawn with abundant, long-lasting flowers. ...

'' *'' Delosperma echinatum'' *'' Delosperma lavisiae'' – AGM *'' Delosperma lehmannii'' *'' Delosperma napiforme'' *''

References

External links

*
Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants Profile: North American SpeciesFlora of North America
*https://worldofsucculents.com/genera/delosperma/
hydropower seed capsule origami
{{Taxonbar, from=Q134423 Aizoaceae genera Taxa named by N. E. Brown Succulent plants