hottentot fig

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hottentot fig

A gardener carefully picks a ripe hottentot fig from a sprawling ground cover.

Definition

Noun: 1. A low-growing, succulent plant native to South Africa: This term refers to a specific species of ground-covering plant (Carpobrotus edulis) known for its fleshy leaves, bright daisy-like flowers, and a fruit capsule. 2. The edible fruit of this plant: It also refers to the fleshy, fig-like fruit produced by this plant, which contains edible pulp.

Usage Examples
  • Referring to the plant:
    • The hottentot fig is often used for dune stabilization and erosion control due to its spreading growth habit.
    • A carpet of hottentot fig covered the coastal hillside, its purple flowers in full bloom.
  • Referring to the fruit:
    • We foraged for hottentot figs along the trail; the tart pulp is quite refreshing.
    • The jam made from hottentot fig has a unique, tangy flavor.
Advanced Usage
  • Botanical and Ecological Context: The term is primarily used in botanical, horticultural, and ecological descriptions. It is often noted that while useful for ground cover, can become an invasive species outside its native range.
    • Conservationists are working to remove the invasive hottentot fig to restore the native plant community.
Variants and Related Words
  • Common Names: This plant is known by several other common names, including sour fig, Cape fig, highway ice plant, and pigface (a name shared with related species).
  • Scientific Name: .
  • Mesembryanthemum: An older botanical genus name sometimes still associated with this and related succulent plants.
Synonyms
  • For the plant: ice plant, sour fig, Cape fig (Note: "ice plant" can refer to other species in the family).
  • For the fruit: sour fig, Cape fig.
Notes on Different Meanings
  • The term specifically denotes both a plant species and its fruit. It is not used idiomatically or in abstract contexts. The name "Hottentot" is an outdated and now often considered offensive term for the Khoekhoe peoples of South Africa. In modern botanical and general contexts, alternative names like sour fig or Cape fig are increasingly preferred.
hottentot fig

A gardener carefully picks a ripe hottentot fig from a sprawling ground cover.

Noun
  1. low-growing South African succulent plant having a capsular fruit containing edible pulp

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