Definition

1. Noun:
   • A low-growing South African succulent plant: A specific plant species, Carpobrotus edulis, native to South Africa, known for its succulent leaves and trailing growth habit.
   • A capsular fruit containing edible pulp: The fruit produced by this plant, which is a fleshy capsule with a tart, edible interior.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The coastal dunes were covered in sprawling sour fig. (The coastal dunes were covered in the sprawling plant known as sour fig.)
  • We harvested the sour fig to make a traditional jam. (We harvested the fruit of the sour fig plant to make a traditional jam.)

Advanced Usage

• As a modifier: The term can be used attributively to describe products or features related to the plant.
  • They sell a delicious sour fig preserve at the market. (They sell a delicious preserve made from the sour fig fruit at the market.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hottentot fig: Another common name for the same plant species, .
• Cape fig: A regional name sometimes used for this plant.
• Ice plant: A broader common name for plants in the genus, referring to the glistening, ice-like bladder cells on the leaves.

Synonyms

• Hottentot fig: A direct synonym for the plant.
• Carpobrotus edulis: The botanical Latin name for the species.

Related Phrases

• Sour fig jam: A specific product made from the fruit.
• Sour fig spread: Another term for a preserve made from the fruit.

Noun

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