''Sesuvium edmonstonei'', commonly known as Galapagos carpet weed,''Sesuvium edmonstonei''ZipCodeZoo.com
Downloaded on 9 August 2009 is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands ( Ecuador).

Description

''Sesuvium edmonstonei'' is a low-growing perennial plant. The stems, which are fleshy and covered with scales, are sometimes woody at the base. The succulent leaves are oblanceolate and grow in opposite pairs; they are simple, entire and up to long. The flowers grow in the leaf axils, each having a five-lobed white

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

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petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s, and many

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s. The fruits that follow are ovoid capsules, with lids, containing black seeds with wrinkled cuticles. The plants develop orange and red hues in the cool season.

Distribution and habitat

This succulent plant is endemic to the Galapagos Islands. It is found on Darwin Island, Española Island, Fernandina Island,

Floreana Island Floreana Island (Spanish: ''Isla Floreana'') is an island of the Galápagos Islands. It was named after Juan José Flores, the first president of Ecuador, during whose administration the government of Ecuador took possession of the archipelago. ...

, Genovesa Island, Isabela Island, Rábida Island, San Cristóbal Island, Santa Cruz Island,

Santiago Island Santiago Island may refer to: *Isla Santiago (Baja California Sur) * Santiago Island (Cape Verde) *Santiago Island (Galápagos) *Santiago Island (Philippines) Santiago Island is an island located off the northeast coast of Bolinao, Pangasinan, Phi ...

and Wolf Island. It spreads in sheets across both rocky and sandy ground.

References

External links

Endemic flora of Galápagos edmonstonei Least concern plants Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN {{Aizoaceae-stub