Natural History Story (Hottentot-Fig)
Where it comes from & Why it’s here:
C. edulis originally comes from South Africa. It is believed to have been introduced to California in the early twentieth century (D’Antonio et al. 1993) or potentially even as early as the 1500s (BLM 2000). It was intentionally planted in the early 1900s as a means of stabilizing dunes. Because it is popular as an ornamental, it has been planted as a roadside ground cover by the California Department of Transportation (D’Antonio 1990, BLM 2000). It has dispersed from this area by both human and animal means .
Ecology:
C. edulis has spread into native plant communities along the California coastline (some examples of habitats: dunes, grasslands, coastal scrub, bluff scrub, and maritime chaparral (D’Antonio 1990)). In its native range, the flowers are pollinated by bees and many beetle species. Its fruits are eaten by baboons, rodents, porcupines, antelopes and people, who end up scattering the seeds (Malan & Notten 2006). Puff-adders and other snakes are often found in C. edulis clumps where they ambush the small rodents that are attracted by the fruits. The clumps also provide shelter for snails, lizards and skunks.
Conservation Status & Environmental Impact:
C. edulis is threatening the survival of other species (not including it's natural habitat: South Africa). C. edulis has been classified as an A-1 level exotic plant in the California Exotic Pest Plant Council’s (CalEPPC) list of exotic plant pests of greatest ecological concern. An A-1 plant is categorized as a plant that is the most widespread and invasive wildland pest plant (California Exotic Pest Plant Council 1999). It can out-compete native species for water, space, and nutrients. In California, it has naturalized and is invading coastal vegetation from north of Eureka to Rosarita Bay. It also has invaded the west coast of Australia from Perth to Albany. And, it is known as the highway ice plant in the USA.
C. edulis creates changes in the micro-climate and disturbance regimes of some communities, effectively excluding some native species with specific climatic and disturbance cycle requirements (Mack and D’Antonio 1998, California Native Plant Society 1999). Once it becomes established, it has a high vegetative reproductive rate, and its growth doesn't seem to be affected by herbivores or competition (D’Antonio 1993; Campelo et al. 1999). C. edulis has also has been known to invade new areas following fire events in California (Zedler and Scheid 1988; D'Antonio et al. 1993).
What a great invasion, little pest plant!
http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/49322-Carpobrotus-edulis
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/carpobed.htm
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1010&fr=1&sts=
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/59508/1/6.1.Au.pdf
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