Mesembryanthemum digitatum
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| Mesembryanthemum digitatum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Potted M. digitatum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Genus: | Mesembryanthemum |
| Species: | M. digitatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Mesembryanthemum digitatum (Aiton) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Mesembryanthemum digitatum, or finger-and-thumb plant, is a stemless plant found in South Africa with a clump of 2–4 thick, waxy leaves per shoot that emerge from the ground which resemble human-like fingers.[2]
The species resembles dwarf shrubs, with their cylindrical leaves reaching only about 10 cm high.[3] Their epidermis consists of bladder cells, which are tiny hair-like structures that help the plant retain water, especially during times of drought.[4] M. digitatum grows white or cream-colored flowers that begin to bloom in late winter.[3] The flower sepals and petaloid staminodes fused together to form wispy linear tubes concentrically aligned around a shell-shaped nectary.[5] Fruits produced by the flowers contain fused valve wings and five locules with light brown seeds.[3] M. digitatum roots are fasciculate or arranged in a bundle.[3] Due to the resemblance of M. digitatum leaves to fingers, the species name "digitatum" is derived from Latin, and it means "to have fingers".[6]
Taxonomy
Mesembryanthemum digitatum is in the subfamily Mesembryanthemoideae which is one of four subfamilies in the family Aizoaceae, which are known as the stone plants. Stone plants are a group of succulent plants that are native to Southern Africa. They are named "stone plants" due to their resemblance to rocks, which helps them avoid being consumed by herbivores.[7] Members of genus Mesembryanthemum contain bladder cells to help them retain water during droughts.[8]
