Carpobrotus rossii explained

Carpobrotus rossii (formerly Mesembryanthemum rossii) is a succulent coastal groundcover plant of the family Aizoaceae. Native to southern Australia, it is known by various common names, including karkalla, pig face, sea fig^[1] and beach bananas.^[2]

C. rossii can be confused with rounded noon-flower Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum, which has also been erroneously called "karkalla" and "beach bananas" in the Australian native food trade.^[3]

Description

Karkalla leaves are succulent, 3.5– long and 11NaN1 wide, and curved or rarely straight. The flowers bloom from August through October, are light purple, and are 61NaN1 wide. The globular purplish red fruit is about 2.50NaN0 long and 1.51NaN1 wide.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in the states of Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.^[5] It can be found year-round in large patches covering sand dunes close to the ocean, due to its hardy nature and salt resistance.^[6]

Conservation

Carpobrotus rossii is common on southern Australian coastal sand dunes and is not considered to be at risk.^[7]

Uses

Aboriginal people eat the fruit traditionally, fresh and dried. The salty leaves have been eaten with meat. The salty edible leaves should not be confused with rounded noon-flower, which also has edible leaves and is marketed as "karkalla".

Extracts of the plant have significant in vitro antioxidant, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory activity.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Carnevale . Tino . 12 July 2019 . Bush Foods . Gardening Australia . ABC Gardening Australia.
2. Web site: Celjo . Farah . 14 September 2022 . The juicy side of a salty fruit . SBS Food . .
3. Web site: Gourmet Traveller Team . 23 October 2017 . What is karkalla? . Are Media Pty Ltd . Gourmet Traveller .
4. Book: Elliot . W.R. . Jones . D.L. . Encyclopædia of Australian Plants . 2 . 1982 . 0-85091-143-5 .
5. Web site: Carpobrotus rossii (Haw.) Schwantes . https://archive.today/20121127014140/http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/texhtml.cgi?form=speciesfacts&family=Aizoaceae&genus=Carpobrotus&species=rossii . dead . 2012-11-27 . 2009-07-13 . Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet . State Herbarium of South Australia .
6. Web site: Carpobrotus Spp . https://web.archive.org/web/20050204093337/http://www.apstas.com/carpobrotus.htm . dead . 2005-02-04 . 2010-12-14 . The Australian Plants Society Tasmania .
7. Web site: Carpobrotus rossii . Australian Native Plants Society . 30 October 2024 .
8. Dominic P. . Geraghty . Kiran D.K. . Ahuja . Jane . Pittaway . Cecilia . Shing . Glenn A. . Jacobson . Nynke . Jager . Saša . Jurković . Christian . Narkowicz . Cassandra I. . Saunders . Madeleine . Ball . Alex . Pinkard . Raghu R. . Vennavaram . Murray J. . Adams . 8 March 2011 . In vitro antioxidant, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory activity of Carpobrotus rossii (pigface) extract . . 134 . 1 . 97–103 . Elsevier . 10.1016/j.jep.2010.11.060. 21130860 .