As Hot as any Hottentot

Found this bad boy today, don't know how I missed it before





An alien invader from South Africa.

 

Yup, Carpobrotus edulis

In SA, a nice jam is made from the fruit

 

I'm going back in the summer if i'm still around

 

I grows in lots of places around the coast.
There was quite a bit of it on the cliffs around Folkestone a few years ago, I guess its still there.

 

The council ordered someone to clear it off the pavement a few years ago a few miles away.. quite funny if you think about it.. it was invading the pavement...

There's another one in the lower town, but I doubt they'd take to the cliffs here, they're very unstable.

 

Take it with you?

 

I can see the resemblance.

 

It grows on the cliffs and beaches here. I am planting it everywhere around the slopes of the van/cabin for stabilizing the soil under the trees as the site is on five levels (we are level four) so up and down front and back.

I love it and hope to collect all the colours available, the orange one being the most uncommon.

The leaves are edible as well as the fruit and the locals also use it similar to an Aloe Vera for burns, scrapes, etc.

 

It is related - both the Aizoaceae