Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

In the facultative halophytic species Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) may be induced by a range of a biotic factors including drought, salinity, high light intensity, low temperature, and anoxia [CAM plants take up CO2 at night and store it in the vacuoles, as malic acid that can be broken down during the day for sugars]. It appears that it is the flexibility of CAM and the associated large phenotypic plasticity of CAM plants that constitute the advantage of CAM for acquisition of ecological niches.

Photographic credit: Ahmed El Aboudi - Image size: 1559x1263 px (716.77 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Plant covered with crystalline papillae.

Photographic credit: Jean-Claude Thiaudière - Image size: 1134x852 px (281.73 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Philippe Geniez - Image size: 1440x1080 px (1,199.72 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Jean-Claude Thiaudière - Image size: 1276x1200 px (457.92 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Philippe Geniez - Image size: 1440x1003 px (1,278.68 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Jean-Claude Thiaudière - Image size: 1134x850 px (213.64 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Ahmed El Aboudi - Image size: 1559x1169 px (736.25 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Philippe Geniez - Image size: 1440x1152 px (817.48 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Fouad Msanda - Image size: 1559x1169 px (1,011.70 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Philippe Geniez - Image size: 1440x932 px (738.46 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Philippe Geniez - Image size: 1440x993 px (850.61 Ko)

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

Photographic credit: Xavier Bassières - Image size: 1183x784 px (507.64 Ko)